Introduction and overview from the Chair and Chief Executive

We are pleased to present the Annual Review for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board for the period 2024/25. This document provides a summary of the full Annual Report and Accounts and offers an important opportunity to reflect on the year’s progress, challenges, and the continued commitment of our staff, partners, and
communities to improving health and care services across North Wales. This year has been a pivotal one in the Health Board’s journey of progress following being placed into Special Measures in February 2023. While significant challenges remain, we are encouraged by the steady and measurable improvements made across key areas including leadership, governance, clinical quality, and financial management.

These gains are the result of considerable focus, discipline, and collaboration throughout the organisation and across our wider health and care system. Throughout the year, we have taken steps to strengthen the foundations of the Health Board. We have continued to stabilise our leadership structures and are building a culture rooted in transparency, shared responsibility, and continuous learning.

Our clinical teams have worked hard to improve access and outcomes for patients, despite ongoing pressures in workforce availability and service demand. We have seen progress in areas such as planned care recovery, urgent and emergency care pathways, and the delivery of key public health priorities, but we also understand that for many of our population it is access to health and well-being services that remains difficult.

Infrastructure developments have advanced during the year, including the development of a new orthopaedic hub at Llandudno Hospital, with investment in our estate and facilities aimed at supporting the delivery of modern, safe, and effective care. We have also continued to accelerate our digital transformation programme, recognising the role that innovation and technology must play in the future of health and care services. As part of this, work is now underway to implement an electronic healthcare record within our mental health services – a key step in improving coordination, continuity, and the quality of care for patients.

We are proud to have introduced innovative technologies such as robotic-assisted knee surgery, positioning the Health Board at the forefront of modern surgical practice. This development is already enhancing patient outcomes and reducing recovery times, and it reflects our commitment to clinical excellence and innovation. Our partnerships have strengthened over the last year. Working closely with local authorities, the third sector, patients, and the public, we are reshaping services to better meet the needs of our communities. We are grateful to all those who have engaged with us in shaping the future direction of health and care across the region.

We also acknowledge that challenges remain. Recruiting and retaining staff in some key clinical areas continues to be difficult, and financial pressures persist across the system. These issues will require sustained attention, collaborative effort, and honest conversations about how we collectively prioritise care.

As we look ahead, our priority is to maintain and build on the progress will require continued focus, support from our partners, and a shared commitment to putting the needs of patients and communities first. We share this Annual Review as both a reflection of what’s been achieved over the past year and a clear statement of our direction for the future. We hope you’ll take the time to explore its contents, and we welcome your continued support and challenge as we work to rebuild trust, improve outcomes, and deliver safe, high-quality care for the people and communities of North Wales.