Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:41 pm on 28 February 2023.
It's clear to everyone now that taking the board out of special measures was a cynical political step, which was done less than three years ago. And in that time, some things have deteriorated: vascular, urology, and emergency services, for example. But, I have a series of questions that constituents in Dwyfor Meirionnydd have asked me to put to you today.
We've been here before, and clearly it didn't work the last time. So, what does the Minister think will be different this time? The Minister has mentioned a change of personnel and mentioned some of the weaknesses that have existed, but is the Minister willing to recognise the role of the independent members in highlighting some of those weaknesses? The fact that the Minister has got rid of the independent members suggests that she thinks that this is where the blame lies, but it's the Minister who appoints these independent members, so will the Minister at least take some responsibility for these difficulties? The independent members are appointed for specific terms. Some are relatively new, but the deep-seated problems in the board go back a decade, so is the Minister willing to accept that there is blame beyond those independent members? Indeed, in this decade, we have seen five chief executives and three chairs, so it's clear that the blame lies beyond these members. Indeed, the one consistent thing throughout this time is a Labour Government, so isn't it time for her and her Government to take responsibility?
You've refused to reorganise because you want to centralise expertise. It's regrettable that I have to remind the Minister that vascular services were centralised during special measures, and look at the mess that was made there. You've often mentioned that this would be too expensive. According to the Minister herself, special measures cost £84 million to the Government last time. Doesn't it therefore make sense to look at reorganisation? This cost would be less than you are currently facing—