Betsi Cadwaladr 'a health board in crisis'

Betsi Cadwaladr health board is in crisis. Yesterday it was put into special measures; today its chief executive Trevor Purt has been suspended with immediate effect.

Mark Drakeford will outline later who will take over from Mr Purt. He will also tell Assembly Members what special measures will mean for the health board, its hospitals and the patients.

This morning, a public board meeting is being held. Chairman Peter Higson said he welcomed the move to put Betsi Cadwaladr into special measures.

The Welsh Government did so after a damming report found vulnerable elderly patients at a mental health ward had been abused. It was the final straw for a board which has faced serious criticism over the years.

Its previous Chief Executive was among those who resigned in 2013 after a report by watchdogs found problems. Most recently, there was outrage after suggestions that special care maternity services would be temporarily removed from Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.

But there are other issues. Its own doctors said they had no faith in the health board bosses. Millions of pounds have been spent on temporary medical staff to fill in gaps in rosters.

Many doctors, nurses and midwives will welcome the move to put the health board into special measures. It’s a first for Wales, but it’s fairly common across the border in England.

Ministers used to brag that no Welsh health board was in special measures – they can’t do that anymore.

It is the nuclear option; the most extreme action the Welsh Government can take - but if it doesn’t resolve the problems, it’s unclear what will.