In their own words

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board's progress:

Geoff Ryall-Harvey, Llais

North Wales | LLais is the successor to North Wales Community Health Council and, as such, we have a long history of monitoring and scrutinising Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.   Over the past 12 months we have seen many changes and we regard BCUHB as almost a new organisation with a different focus and ethos.

There is now a permanent Chair, Chief Executive, Medical Director and Director of Nursing and there are fewer interim appointments.  This is giving a sense of stability and continuity that has not been present for some considerable time.

The Board is still dealing with the problems of the past but is bringing a different and more open approach to involving patients and the public in its plans and decisions.  Examples of this include public meetings to discuss concerns about community hospitals and GP practices in Tywyn and Betws y Coed.  There is also a renewed commitment to engagement and consultation and this has been given practical support by Welsh Government.

The new Board has many challenges; some that have always been there such as recruitment but also the renewed focus on funding and financial savings that will make the task of renewal much more difficult.

It should be clear that Doctors, Nurses and other staff of Betsi Cadwaladr are not in Special Measures and that they are committed to providing the best possible care to patients.  It is the responsibility of the Betsi Cadwaladr Board to help them achieve this.

A good start has been made but it is essential that the Board continue to listen and engage with people in North Wales in order to work together and provide the NHS care they deserve.  In a time of financial challenge, this will not be easy.

Jan Tomlinson, Unison

Well what a year we’ve had since going into Special Measures as staff!

We have a new  Chief Executive and Chairman both of whom are including trade unions in all they do embracing the  true spirit of Partnership Working. We as Trade Union partners recognise it’s no easy fix to get us out of Special Measures  it’s a marathon not a sprint. But changes we are seeing and being part of feels we are heading in the right direction.

We feel staff are being listened to and more importantly heard, their views count

Mike Parry, Associate Member for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

"A year on from the implementation of special measures one is compelled to reflect and examine our journey so far. It will not be about how we started the journey but how it will end.

What I am reassured of is, is that the Board does have a sense of purpose, a sense of being a  team, working hard  and co-operatively towards a possible solution  -  to what is a very complex jigsaw.

The real answers will come not from money but from our most valuable asset – people, who are doing the most difficult of jobs in the most difficult of times and circumstances. What is abundantly clear is that there has to be a change in culture from the top down and hopefully the new Board will deliver that change, not by imposing changes, but by listening and working with staff and the public to make those changes jointly,sympathetically and knowledgably.

Special measures demanded change and objective self examination - and the Board and the SRG Group have done exactly that, one likes to think. Most of our SRG members are at the roots and sharp end of the health service – the end users, the patients, the unwell, the dying, the recovering, the cured!

In the SRG we are expanding our knowledge base, by recruiting more organisations - who are more than familiar with the problems that their sectoral stakeholders face.  To be fair to the new Board, it has recognized that perhaps the SRG have not in the past, been properly consulted on developments in the offing and on the drawing boards. The Board is now tasked  and committed to involving the Group much earlier in proposals.

The SRG has a good cross section of Stakeholders, with varying fields of specialism and expertise - which can certainly scrutinise and offer ideas and solutions to the Board, to better deliver our services.

Societal change and expectation has become a huge issue – certainly in terms of consequential costs. What previous generations saw as an obligation or a blessing is now perceived as a necessity and the state’s responsibility and all that that entails. 

To conclude, I am very optimistic that the new Board will succeed where others have failed  -  if given time, because in real terms there are few quick fixes available to us."

Dilwyn Morgan, Cabinet Member Adults, Health and Wellbeing

"It has  been encouraging to see the drive towards stability within the structure of the Health Board over the past 12 months.

As the Chair of the Regional Partnership Board, I very much look forward to the future  and working alongside the Betsi Cadwaldar Health Board under the guidance and leadership of both Dyfed Edwards and Carol Shilabeer.

Together and in collaboration I’m sure we can provide the best Health and Care  services for the people of North Wales and serve the needs of our communities across the region."

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, one year on: digital download