Details of Betsi Cadwaladr special measures released

Health Minister Mark Drakeford has set out details of the special measures Betsi Cadwaladr health board is subject to, following "long-standing concerns about governance, leadership and other issues".

They are as follows:

• Governance, leadership and oversight – the health board must implement governance and assurance actions which have been highlighted in a series of reports, including by the Wales Audit Office and HIW, and in a review carried out by Ann Lloyd.
• Mental health services – the board must implement the mental health plan for North Wales, including actions arising from previous reviews, governance concerns and significantly the recent report into the events at Tawel Fan.
• Maternity services at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd – the health board must resolve the outstanding question about the future of consultant-led maternity services at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, acknowledging the ongoing quality, safety and service sustainability issues and bring forward plans for the Sub-Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Centre.
• GP and primary care services, including out-of-hours services – the health board must respond to the out-of-hours review and related concerns, which it commissioned.
• Reconnecting with the public and regaining the public’s confidence – the board must undertake and oversee a listening exercise to establish a different approach to public engagement. It needs to do that rapidly and it needs to listen to what it is told by its local population rather than just informing them of the board’s point of view.

The health board was put into special measures yesterday. This morning, its chief executive Trevor Purt was suspended with immediate effect.

Simon Dean, deputy chief executive of the Welsh NHS, will step in as "accountable officer", Mr Drakeford said, helped by a team of "key individuals".