June 28, 2023 - 558 views
A local Senedd member is calling for more examination of the health board finances in North Wales.
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has come under further scrutiny as if finished 2022/23 with a £196million deficit, and is now projecting a £134million deficit at the end of 2023/24. The figures were disclosed ahead of the Health Board meeting on 22 June 2023.
This follows on from the ongoing concerns about the Health Board, including about leadership and financial management. A recent Ernst and Young report found that finance officials deliberately made incorrect entries into accounts, which saw £122m not properly accounted for.
Commenting on the financial position of the Health Board, Aberconwy MS Janet Finch-Saunder said: “The news that the Health Board is expected to finish the year £134million in deficit does not fill me with confidence that they have effective financial management in place.
“Residents of Aberconwy have already had cause for alarm with the disclosure of the £122m scandal, and now, even with special measures, the best the management team can deliver is a huge excess spend.
“I urge the Health Board and Minister for Health and Social Services to outline in detail why there is a massive deficit this year.
“The public have a right to know where every single penny is being spent, and what action is being taken to ensure that Betsi Cadwaladr is operating as efficiently and effectively as possible.”
