AN MP SAID he is 'surprised' at the decision to remove the health board from special measures.

Dr James Davies, MP for Vale of Clwyd, is concerned there has not been the improvement in performance needed to justify such a move.

He said: "Regrettably, I am not aware of the kind of improvements which may warrant taking Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board out of special measures – other perhaps than the fact that the special measures themselves appear to have been ineffectual.

"This health board has been in special measures almost six years, the longest of any health organisation in the UK, and yet, despite the best efforts of all the hardworking staff, we have continued to see failure after failure. My postbag and personal experience tells me that NHS services in North Wales have a long way to go before they meet the standard of those elsewhere in the UK.

“Most recently, during the pandemic, we have seen worrying management of Covid-19 outbreaks within local hospitals, the incorrect reporting of Covid deaths, the inappropriate discharge of mental health patients, and a real failure to get elective care back up and running – with the consequence that waiting times are absolutely abysmal and far worse than in other parts of the UK.”

“Many staff tell me of the need for a management overhaul. In light of this, it is quite bewildering that this decision has been taken before the new chief executive has even arrived.

“It remains the case that major transformation is required to NHS provision in North Wales, focussed particularly on the culture and governance of the health board, as well as individual services, particularly mental health.”

He added: “Moving forward, I would like to see directly comparable UK-wide statistics for healthcare performance and outcomes, as well as robust inspection mechanisms to match those in place in England, so that there can be no hiding place for services which are letting patients and staff down.”

Ann Jones, MS for Vale of Clwyd, said the removal of special measures acts as a testament to the 'hard work and dedication of NHS staff over the past few years.'

She added: "This is the latest indicator of improvement with out-of-hours and maternity services having left special measures last year.

“I’m reassured that the services who need it will benefit from targeted intervention to help them realise the improvements we’ve seen elsewhere.

“I will continue to work with the health board and the Welsh Government to ensure people across Vale of Clwyd have access to the very best health services.”

In a joint statement, BCUHB's chairman Mark Polin and acting chief executive Gill Harris said: “We welcome this significant announcement and continued support from Welsh Government. We are encouraged by the growing confidence in our plans to make strategic longer term improvements while acknowledging that there is much more to do.

“The package of support recently announced by Welsh Government will help us to build on work to develop transformational and sustainable solutions to long term challenges in unscheduled care, diagnostics, planned care and mental health services.

“We are confident that our ambitious plans for the future will improve patient experience and waiting times. These include the establishment of Diagnostic and Treatment Centres and driving forward the business case for a North Wales Medical and Health Science School.

“We are hugely proud that colleagues across the organisation have risen to the challenge of COVID-19 and have displayed positivity, resilience and a commitment to patients in the most difficult of circumstances. We thank them for everything they have done to care for patients and keep our communities safe.

“There is a lot more work ahead but we are confident that with the support of our staff, partners, and public, the much-needed transformation of health services across North Wales will be achieved."

The health board revealed earlier this year that Jo Whitehead had been appointed as the new chief executive of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

She will officially take up her role as chief executive on January 1 2021 but is engaging with the chair, the board and the executive team in the interim period.