BETSI Cadwaladr University Health Board has been put into special measures for a second time.

The board has also "stepped aside".

Welsh health and social services minister Eluned Morgan revealed BCUHB is being put into special measures because of "serious concerns about performance, leadership and culture".

The chair, vice chair and independent members of the Board have agreed they will step aside.

New independent members will be appointed to the board to lead the organisation as it continues to rebuild its services following the pandemic.

Ms Morgan said: “I have serious concerns around the performance of the health board and I have not seen the improvement in services I expect for the people of North Wales. I have therefore decided to take action to rectify this.

“I have informed the board that I am putting the organisation back into Special Measures with immediate effect. This significant decision is made in line with the escalation framework. It reflects serious concerns about the performance of the organisation, about its governance, and issues with leadership and culture that are holding back progress.

READ MORE: ​Damning report raises 'deeply worrying' issues at Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board

“I recognise that the health board has had significant challenges for a number of years and has worked hard to overcome these challenges. But now is the time for new leadership to deliver the improvements that are needed.”

A number of direct appointments to the board have been made by the Minister to ensure stability: The non-executive team will be led by Dyfed Edwards as the new chair of the BCUHB, a former leader of Gwynedd Council and the deputy chair of the Welsh Revenue Authority.

The new chair will focus on renewing the leadership and culture of the health board which will support its workforce to provide safe and effective services for the people of North Wales.

Dyfed will be supported by Gareth Williams, Karen Balmer and Rhian Watcyn Jones as interim independent members of the Board.

Further direct appointments will follow in the next few weeks.

A campaign to recruit new independent members to the Board who will take the organisation forward beyond this initial period of stabilisation will commence later this year. Key to developing and building a sustainable organisation will be the appointment of the substantive chief executive. The recruitment process for this post is about to start.

  • For news sent directly to your inbox - sign up for Leader newsletters and breaking news email alerts here 

The health board will also be supported by an intervention and support team.

Ms Morgan added: “Every day thousands of people are receiving good care from the NHS in North Wales but there is a large degree of inconsistency in safety, performance and quality across the region, addressing this inconsistency will be the focus of the new board.

"Whilst special measures will apply to the organisation, I wish to reassure both patients and communities served by the health board, as well as the staff working for it, that day to day services and activities will continue, with an increased focus on quality and safety.”

BCUHB last entered special measures in 2015. This was in response to a series of problems and a damning report into a mental health unit.

It was taken out of special measures after five years in November 2020.

Gill Harris, Interim Chief Executive at BCUHB, said: “Following the publication of the Audit Wales report on Board effectiveness last week and in light of the significant challenges we continue to face, the health minister has today announced that the health board will be escalated into Special Measures.

“While this is extremely disappointing, I acknowledge that more needs to be done at a greater pace to regain the confidence of our staff and our communities.

“The increased level of intervention and support that special measures will provide will involve working more closely with Welsh Government and the development of an improvement plan with key milestones. The arrangements will also involve the creation of a health board turnaround team during the coming weeks.

“The dedication and effort of our 19,000 staff has been recognised and this decision will help us to ensure our communities get the services they expect and deserve.

“I would like to thank Mark Polin, Lucy Reid and all of the independent members for their support during some of the most challenging times the NHS has ever faced.”