Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy is shocked to learn that nearly a quarter of a million pounds was spent by the Welsh Government on special measures interventions at the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
Following a written question to the Minister For Health and Social Services, Eluned Morgan, it was disclosed that in the past year independent advisors assisted the health board at a cost of £153,065.24, with other providers conducting reviews, incurring expenses of £81,831.90.
The spending follows the last year where Betsi Health Board has been in special measures due to it poor performance which has seen incidents like oxygen cylinders not being prepared resulting in no oxygen to the patient and severe backlogs in Urology with patient pathways not being actioned due to dire staffing levels.
Commenting on the news Janet said:
“This really is the cherry on top. I feared the number was going to be high but I was not prepared for a cost as high as nearly a quarter of a million pounds.
“After enduring persistent issues within the health board for years and witnessing the Welsh Government's treatment akin to some sort of opportunistic political flip-flopping, we are now burdened with the cost of more than 10 reviews.
“At a time when our Chancellor, The Right Honourable Jeremy Hunt, is condemning councils for misusing the peoples purse on consultants and excessive 'independent' reviews, we should be exercising greater prudence in our expenditures.
“It's regrettable what transpired at the Betsi Health Board, but once again, the Welsh Government have displayed their fiscal mismanagement by having to redirect taxpayer money into the pockets of consultants and advisors.”
ENDS
Photo: Money
