BETSI Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) is to face criminal charges regarding the death of a female patient at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor.

The board is being prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in relation to a death on the hospital’s Hergest mental health unit on April 20, 2021.

It is accused of breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act, with the first hearing due to take place at Llandudno Magistrates' Court on August 3.

Dr Nick Lyons, interim deputy chief executive and executive medical director from at BCUHB, apologised on behalf of the board for its “failures” in a “very tragic case”.

He said: “This is a very tragic case and our hearts go out to the family and loved ones of the patient.

“On behalf of the health board, I want to reiterate how deeply sorry I am for the failures in the care we provided.

“We are unable to comment further until the hearing has concluded.”

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A Welsh Government spokesperson added: “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this sad death.

“We are unable to comment further while the hearing is ongoing.”

BCUHB was placed back into special measures on February 27.

Welsh Government health minister Eluned Morgan said at the time that this was due to “serious concerns about performance, leadership and culture”.

The chair, vice chair and independent members of the board were removed, with new independent members appointed in their place.

Rhun ap Iorwerth, MS for Ynys Môn and Plaid Cymru spokesperson on health and care, added: “My thoughts go out to the family involved in this patient’s case.

“The continued scandals surrounding Hergest and mental health services in BCUHB are hugely worrying.

“This tragic event – and others that we are aware of – unfortunately demonstrate that Welsh Government and the health board have not had a firm enough grip on improving the service.

“This follows years of ongoing failings in mental health care in north Wales where patients have been exposed to risks.

“We can’t forget that BCUHB was first placed in special measures back in 2015 due to concerns with mental health services – the people of north Wales expect and deserve an improved service.

“This incident only reiterates that the health board was not ready to come out of those special measures when it did in 2020.

“Welsh Government must now get to the root cause of the issues within mental health once and for all.”

Darren Millar, MS for Clwyd West, added: “Many people will be shocked at news that the HSE is prosecuting BCUHB for exposing patients to risks which resulted in the death of a mental health patient in its care.

“The failure to get to grips with challenges in our mental health services in North Wales is nothing short of scandalous.

“The fact that this death occurred just months after the health board was taken out of special measures by Welsh Government raises the questions as to whether that decision contributed to this tragedy.”