A member of the Welsh Parliament calls for a public inquiry into Betsi Cadwalladr University Health Board

Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, backs calls for a public inquiry into Betsi Cadwalladr University Health Board.

The Health Board has been in special measures for the past 10 years, and Mr Rowlands was speaking during a Welsh Conservative debate calling for the Welsh Government to intervene.

He said:

“It's not by chance that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has been in special measures for the past 10 years. Despite the efforts, by those hard-working staff, people in North Wales have experienced a decade of decline, despair and despondency when they're trying to access those health services that they so desperately need.

“North Wales far too often is an afterthought for the Labour Party—a place far, far away from the Cardiff Bay bubble, a place that gets less funding, doesn't get the infrastructure investment it requires, and sadly lags behind the rest of Wales in public service capacity.

“Colleagues have pointed out that a decade ago, the amount of people in the pathways waiting for treatments was 86,000. That number is now at 198,000.

“What I don't understand, is why every opportunity to reduce those waits is not being utilised. Time and time again, I've had both independent and third sector organisations approaching me to share their frustration at the lack of engagement by the health board.

“Indeed, Specsavers, I was with them just recently, talked about their audiology services. They say that they could clear those waiting lists within three years in audiology, and they're not getting the engagement from the health board to enable them to do that.

“I have one constituent who's been waiting for two years for a musculoskeletal appointment, a child who's been in CAMHS for a decade and still hasn't had their neurodiversity assessment, and a patient who had a cannula left in her arm that should have been removed, causing an infection. Those are just three quick examples from recent days of my constituents getting in touch with me.

“The time has come for a full public inquiry into Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. We've had enough of the Welsh Government dodging accountability, of them leaving the people of North Wales to languish. There needs to be light shed on the entire situation. No more sweeping this problem under the carpet.”

The Welsh Conservatives have been calling for a public inquiry into Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and this week brought forward a Senedd motion calling on the Welsh Labour Government to initiate this, but both Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru voted against these calls.

Mr Rowlands added:

“I was extremely disappointed but not at all surprised at the lack of support from Labour and Plaid members on this issue as they are clearly ignoring the very real concerns of the people of North Wales.

“Quite frankly I am amazed that other parties are not prepared to stand up for patients who are continually let down. The people of North Wales deserve better.”

The motion which was be debated read:

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes that 8th June 2025 marks ten years since Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board was placed in special measures.

Calls on the Welsh Government to initiate a public inquiry into Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

Pictured - Sam Rowlands at the Maelor Hospital.