Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:23 pm on 10 January 2023.

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Photo of Rhun ap Iorwerth Rhun ap Iorwerth Plaid Cymru 2:23, 10 January 2023

(Translated)

We've had two incidents of this kind in the space of a fortnight in north Wales—two internal critical incidents. And I can give the First Minister an assurance that it does feel to be critical within Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board day upon day, for patients waiting a long time for treatment, for staff who are working under huge pressures and for ambulance workers who've had enough of queuing outside of hospitals. And if the First Minister's defence is that these are problems that exist in all parts of Wales, then let us remind the Senedd that this particular health board has been in some level of raised intervention for almost eight years. Now, yes, we need to tackle NHS problems across Wales, but I again ask the First Minister, whilst he's trying to do that with his health Minister, will he look at a new pattern of delivering healthcare in north Wales? The board is too large, it is too unwieldy, people have lost faith in the board, and we need to press the reset button in order to provide healthcare in a way that I'm afraid Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board cannot currently do.