In First Minister’s Questions today Interim Welsh Conservative leader Paul Davies AM highlighted the serial failings at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and the horrendous impact that those shortcomings have had on patients across North Wales.

A report last week from Donna Ockenden made it clear that management failures at the Board had directly contributed to the disgraceful events at Tawel Fan and to numerous other instances of sub-standard patient care.

Mr Davies said:

“The First Minister should be ashamed of his Government’s management of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

“The Ockenden report has showed a frightening catalogue of failures in the delivery of services in North Wales.

“It’s now been three years since the Welsh Government put Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board in special measures and yet over that period, progress has been slow and significant improvements have yet to be made.

“The people of North Wales are right to feel angry and upset at the lack of progress over the past three years in addressing these serious failings.

“There’s clearly a culture of deny, defend and dismiss at the heart of Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board and the First Minister’s Government and it’s time the Welsh Government stepped up and took some responsibility.