AN MS was left 'disappointed' following a debate in the Senedd after calls for the 'scandalous' report into financial dealings at the Health Board to be published failed to materialise.
Prior to the debate in the Senedd on Wednesday (June 7), Welsh Conservative Darran Millar called for the scathing report into financial dealings at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to be made public.
Investigators concluded in April that no further action was needed after auditors discovered £122m was not properly accounted for.
The probe into the accounts came following a report from accountancy firm Ernst and Young (EY), which has yet to be made public.
Now Mr Millar, who has seen the report, believes that it is in the public interest to be published.
He said in the Senedd: "We need to be able to see this information out there. I've read the report. A copy was shared with me, as it was with other Members, on an anonymous basis, and it is scandalous: false accounting, fraud, what appears to amount to misconduct in public office being committed.
"All of these, of course, could be criminal matters and that is why it's absolutely appropriate that the police are carefully considering whether to take a prosecution forward."
Mr Millar added: "Now, you've had this report, and so has the health board, for four and a half months. I don't know how long it takes to organise a dismissal of people and to hold them to account, but it shouldn't be taking four and a half months, frankly, given the information in this report, which seems to be pretty black and white as to what was going on."
READ MORE: Concerns raised after fraud investigation into Betsi Cadwaladr is dropped
Minister for Health and Social Services responded to the Welsh Conservative's motion, by outlining that the health board could not publish the report due to it not being requested by Welsh Government.
She said: "As has been said on numerous occasions in this Chamber, this was not our report, so I can’t ask for it to be published. This report was commissioned by the health board, so any decision to publish any or all of the report is a matter for the health board. In fact, the health board’s Chair has informed me that the health board is seeking legal advice on whether it is able to publish the report.
"Should that advice be to publish the report in full or in part, that is what they will do. I think that they are very anxious to do that if they get the legal okay to do that."
In April, NHS Counter Fraud found no wrongdoing in the report and dropped the investigation.
Calls have been made for North Wales Police to investigate, which is something Ms Morgan is happy to accommodate.
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She added: "The NHS counter-fraud service investigated concerns raised in the EY report, having had an opportunity to review the full report, including the appendices, and in April, decided that there was no evidence that anyone acted in a way that was motivated by personal gain, and announced that it would not be taking any criminal action at that time.
"Now, North Wales Police has yet to confirm whether it considers there are grounds to launch an investigation into claims made in the report.
"I know the police have had early discussions with NHS counter-fraud service and the health board and that the health board is co-operating at this early stage. And I would expect them to act in a transparent and honest manner, should the police decide to investigate."
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