Governance Arrangements at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

Governance Arrangements at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

The Wales Audit Office and Healthcare Inspectorate Wales undertook a joint review An Overview of Governance Arrangements – Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB), which was published in June 2013. 

The joint report found that:

  • the Health Board’s governance arrangements and procedures did not adequately address the gap between the ward and the Board;
  • routine governance arrangements within the Health Board had not paid sufficient attention to infection control;
  • the effectiveness of the Board had been significantly compromised by a breakdown in working relationships between some senior leaders in the organisation; and
  • the Board collectively lacked the capacity and capability to provide appropriate levels of scrutiny in relation to service delivery.

 

Following the publication of the report, the Public Accounts Committee undertook an inquiry into the governance arrangements at BCUHB and how they are being addressed.

The Committee closely monitored the implementation of the recommendations contained within its December 2013 report by receiving regular written and oral updates from the Health Board and the Welsh Government and taking account of further reporting by the Auditor General and Healthcare Inspectorate Wales. This monitoring gave the Committee an opportunity to consider how the Health Board has responded to being placed in special measures by the Minister for Health and Social Services in June 2015. The Welsh Government has since indicated that the period of special measures is likely to last until at least October 2017.

 

The Committee recommended in its Legacy Report that the successor Committee monitors the progress Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board makes during the period of special measures including GP Out of Hours services, and considers taking further oral evidence from the Health Board in Spring 2017.

 

The Committee recommended in its Legacy Report that the  successor Committee considers the Welsh Government’s response to the recommendations in the February 2016 report on ‘Wider issues emanating from the governance review of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’ and follows up on the implementation of related actions at regular intervals.

 

 

Business type: Committee Inquiry

Reason considered: Senedd Business;

Status: Complete

First published: 31/07/2013

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