‘On notice’: what the new First Minister said about Betsi Cadwaladr this week
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has marked 11 years in special measures with Wales’s new First Minister putting the board formally “on notice.”
Rhun ap Iorwerth made the comments during questions in the Senedd on Tuesday as opposition members pressed him on what the new Plaid Cymru government would do differently on north Wales health after nearly three decades of Labour administration.
Mr ap Iorwerth said: “I’ve made it very, very clear that Betsi Cadwaladr is on notice, but the solution that the patients and staff across north Wales want isn’t new structures, it’s a better delivery of health and care.”
The First Minister pointed to Mabon ap Gwynfor, the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care, as the lead on the health board. Mr ap Gwynfor represents Dwyfor Meirionnydd and has direct responsibility for oversight of BCUHB since the new government took office following the May 2026 election.
Mr ap Iorwerth declined to commit to restructuring the board, saying he was “concentrating on” improved delivery rather than organisational change.
Betsi Cadwaladr, which covers the six counties of north Wales including Flintshire, entered special measures in June 2015 following concerns over governance, financial management and patient safety. It is the largest health board in Wales by geographic area and serves around 700,000 people.
The exchange followed a question from Dan Thomas, the leader of Reform UK in the Senedd, who asked where the “visible political leadership” on Betsi was. Mr Thomas asked:
“This week marks the 11-year anniversary that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board went into special measures. First Minister, when you were in opposition, you were quick to criticise the then Labour Government.”
Mr ap Iorwerth did not dispute the characterisation of the record, saying the problems faced by the health board came after “27 years of Labour health Ministers in Betsi.”
He said:
“The seriousness of the approach by Mabon ap Gwynfor to dealing with the problems that we absolutely face after 27 years of Labour health Ministers in Betsi is something that is not lost on us.”
No performance milestones, targets or timelines were set out for the health board during the exchange.
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