A new report has raised major concerns over "dysfunctionality" at a Welsh health board. The report by Audit Wales said Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) faced "dysfunctionality and factions" which were majorly impacting its ability to face its "significant challenges."
The spending watchdog, which published its report on Thursday, February 23, said the health board - which covers north Wales and is the biggest health board in Wales - found "fractured working relationships" within the health board's executive team were preventing it from working effectively. It said the health board was facing "unprecedented challenges" from demands on its services and long-term concerns over the performance, quality and safety of services.
It said a lack of confidence in the health board's management, which includes four different chief executives since 2019, had led some individuals to challenge team members in a way that was "perceived by some to be hostile and inappropriate." It added that this had "adversely affected working relationships and functionality within the wider board" and led to an inability to resolve issues including soaring demand.
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Auditor General, Adrian Crompton said the results of the report were "extremely worrying," adding: "It is clear that there are some deep-seated problems with working relationships within the board. These problems need to be resolved as a matter of urgency to provide confidence to the public and wider stakeholders that the health bhas the leadership it needs to effectively tackle the significant challenges it faces, and to provide safe and effective care to the people of north Wales.”
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board came out of special measures in November 2020 and is currently subject to targeted intervention as part of the Welsh Government’s escalation and intervention framework to deal with issues within its health system. The Welsh Government has made £82m of additional funding available to the health board per year over three and half years in a bid to improve its services.
Mark Polin, Chair of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said: "As Chair of the health board I welcome the report and the observations and recommendations set out by Audit Wales. I can confirm the board’s commitment to taking the recommendations forward, and we will work collaboratively with Welsh Government and Audit Wales in doing so.
"The health board has been aware of the majority of the issues raised in the Audit Wales report, which partly informed a decision to commission a bespoke board development programme with the Kings Fund to address Board effectiveness and relationships in 2020. It is most disappointing that previous internal interventions have not resulted in necessary improvements in relation to an effective board, which is what the patients and population of north Wales deserve in order to deliver and receive safe and effective services.
“The board will receive the report and a proposed action plan, to be developed in consultation with Welsh Government and other key stakeholders, at the March board meeting, but the required responses will commence immediately. In this regard a number of actions are already in train to address some of the serious matters identified in the report, with progress having been made in relation to key areas such as the chief executive officer recruitment, which is underway with our chosen recruitment partner.”
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