A FAILING health board in north Wales was told today that Health Minister Mabon ap Gwynfor was taking action to directly intervene with its running.

Mr ap Gwynfor said an independent panel will be stepping in with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

He said: “People in north Wales are waiting too long to be able to access the care and treatment they need.

“This is not a reality the public should be asked to accept, and it is not one this government will accept either.”

Betsi Cadwaladr has been in a heightened state of escalation for 11 years, and at the most serious level, level 5, since February 2023.

The minister said the health board continues to fall short of the standards that people in north Wales deserve.

As part of the intervention, a full stocktake of the health board’s current position will be carried out, covering operational challenges, quality of care and strategic direction.

The review will examine patient safety as well as the health board’s leadership, governance, organisational culture and board capability.

An independent expert panel will undertake the assessment and provide clear, evidence-based recommendations to the minister.

“Today’s announcement is a serious intervention, reflecting the persistent and unresolved concerns,” Mr ap Gwynfor said.

“Previous arrangements have relied on the health board identifying and delivering its own recovery, with support alongside it, that has not worked.

“This new plan represents a clear departure from the failed approaches of the past. We are not simply asking the organisation to improve; we are directing them on how that improvement happens.”

A final report is expected by the end of October.