March 05, 2026 - 183 views
People across North Wales are still waiting too long for hospital treatment despite some improvements at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, according to a new progress report published by the Welsh Government.
The report confirms that the Health Board remains in 'special measures' status.
The report marks three years since the health board was placed into special measures, the highest level of government intervention in the NHS in Wales, after serious concerns about leadership, governance and the quality of services.
While the latest review highlights signs of progress, ministers say major challenges remain — particularly around long waiting lists, cancer treatment and emergency care.
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Jeremy Miles said too many patients in North Wales are still waiting far longer than they should for treatment.
“Betsi Cadwaladr has made progress under special measures over the past three years,” he said. “However, serious concerns remain, especially around operational performance and timely access to care. Too many people are waiting too long for planned treatment, cancer services and urgent and emergency care.”
The report says the health board has made improvements in areas such as leadership, governance and financial management since 2023, including strengthening its senior management team and introducing new systems to improve safety and accountability.
But the biggest issue facing patients remains delays in treatment. Betsi Cadwaladr currently has the largest share of the longest waiting times in Wales, and the report says urgent action is needed to reduce waiting lists and improve access to hospital care.
Emergency departments across North Wales have also been under pressure, with performance against the four-hour waiting target among the worst in Wales and thousands of patients waiting more than 12 hours in A&E.
Some progress has been made in reducing the longest waits for treatment. Funding from the Welsh Government has helped cut the number of people waiting more than two years for care by more than 40 per cent in recent months.
However, ministers say the health board must now deliver rapid and sustained improvements to restore public confidence and ensure patients receive safe and timely care.
Betsi Cadwaladr was placed into special measures in February 2023 following repeated concerns raised by inspectors about leadership, service performance and patient safety.
The health board, which runs major hospitals including Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor, Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Bodelwyddan and Wrexham Maelor Hospital, provides NHS services for around 700,000 people across North Wales.
Special measures mean the organisation is closely monitored by the Welsh Government and receives additional support to help drive improvements.
Despite the continuing challenges, the report recognises the work of NHS staff across the region.
Jeremy Miles said: “Staff across North Wales have shown real commitment to improving services for patients, and I want to thank them for their hard work. But we must now see faster progress so people can access the care they need when they need it.”
The health board will remain in special measures while further improvements are made.
