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Confidence in North Wales’ health board has hit an all-time low after it was thrown into special measures.

Drastic action was taken against Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board this afternoon following a meeting between officials from BCUHB, the Wales Audit Office, Health Inspectorate Wales and the Welsh Government.

Health Minister Mark Drakeford says the decision to take over the running of the board reflects the “serious and outstanding concerns” about its leadership, governance and progress.

It comes following the publication of a damning report into the “appalling” and “shocking” mistreatment and neglect of patients on a Denbighshire mental health ward.

Ysbyty Glan Clwyd’s Tawel Fan ward was shut down in December 2013 amid allegations of historical abuse and neglect which saw patients treated on the floor and allowed to “run around naked”.

Scandal-hit BCUHB, which has already been highly criticised this year over plans to downgrade maternity at one of its three district general hospitals, was already at the highest level of intervention for any health board.

According to the Welsh Government’s NHS Wales Escalation and Intervention Arrangements documents, special measures – the fourth and final level of intervention – is explained as: “Current arrangements require significant change. Welsh Ministers may take intervention as set out in the NHS (Wales) Act 2006.”

Inside Ysbyty Glan Clwyd's Tawel Fan mental health ward

Health Minister Dr Drakeford said in a statement: “As a result of that meeting between Welsh Government officials, the Wales Audit Office and Health Inspectorate Wales, I have accepted their advice that the health board should be placed in special measures.

“This significant decision is made in line with the escalation framework.

“It reflects serious and outstanding concerns about the leadership, governance and progress in the health board over some time.

“A thorough and balanced assessment has taken place on areas of concern that will form the basis of actions to be taken as a result of special measures.

“My decision has been communicated to the chair of the health board in line with the process outlined in the escalation framework.”

Mr Drakeford will make an oral statement to the Assembly tomorrow.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board will also meet in public tomorrow.

Shadow Health Minister Darren Millar has welcomed today’s decision, saying it’s “long overdue”.

He said: “Placing the health board in special measures is the first step to turning the organisation into an effective provider of first class health care, where patient safety comes first.

“Patients in North Wales have been failed by mismanagement, which has focussed minds on budget lines and compromised the safety of patients and staff. Now we must make sure this never happens again.”

Marc Jones, of North Wales Health Alliance, says the move is “too little too late”.

He added: “This health board has gone from crisis to crisis over the past few years and has lost all credibility with the general public as well as many staff.

“The failure of the Government to intervene sooner was a missed opportunity to avoid some of the most recent failings, such as the lack of consultation over moving maternity services.

“The NWHA doesn’t believe that we simply need a change of personnel at the top of the board, we need a change of plan. Centralising services – especially community care – doesn’t work and we’re about to embark on yet more changes.

“Frontline staff are overstretched and management seem out of touch with their experiences. Schools and councils in crisis have seen interventions that have turned around failing institutions – we hope special measures for this health board will achieve the same.”

Plaid Cymru AM Llyr Gruffydd agreed the move should have come sooner, saying that the board’s catalogue of problems “stems from a failure to listen to clinical experts and the general public”.

He said: “Apologies mean nothing without a change of direction and we’re not seeing that with this health board. There are more significant changes in health care delivery on the way and the lack of confidence people have in the board mean that this change is de-stabilising.”

Labour’s Vale of Clwyd AM Ann Jones commented: “This is the right decision and I am pleased that the Welsh Government are responding to the concerns of myself and the wider public."