Written statement by Mabon ap Gwynfor MS, Cabinet Minister for Health and Care:
Today, an independent assessment report has been published by NHS Wales Performance and Improvement as part of the Level 4 intervention support at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board which was commissioned by Welsh Government.
The health board were escalated to Level 4 in July 2025 due to increasing financial deficit, quality, planned care waiting times, cultural and leadership challenges. In March 2026, the previous Welsh Government issued the health board with an agreed level 4 escalation framework setting out the reasons for escalation as well as the intervention, support and oversight arrangements to be delivered through NHS Wales Performance and Improvement.
The first phase of the intervention included an independent assessment to identify the underlying causes of escalation, focusing on governance, organisational culture and leadership, and the likely effectiveness of existing improvement and recovery plans. The assessment was undertaken by two independent advisors with senior operational, executive and medical leadership experience.
The report concluded with the publication of the report which identifies concerns across leadership, culture, governance, planning and organisational capability that are unacceptable and must be urgently addressed. The report is clear that the health board’s challenges are systemic and long-standing, requiring organisational reset, a single recovery plan, stronger accountability, assurance and cultural change. Under this new Welsh Government, we will not allow such issues to continue, and we will robustly hold the health board to account for its performance.
However, as well as confronting the challenges head on, it is also important to recognise areas where improvement has been made. The report notes that there is a dedicated and enthusiastic workforce who remain committed to ensuring patient safety is a priority. It is clear within the report that staff have often been working in challenging and difficult circumstances but continue to deliver high quality standards of care. I am grateful for their hard work as well as their contributions to this report and their desire to support the change required.
Despite the findings of the report, the health board continues to demonstrate areas of good practice and performance, including urgent and emergency care and specialist services. The report also notes improvements in board oversight and development under the new Chair. While there is clearly some way to go to ensure that the board’s overall performance is at the level that both we as Government and the public would rightly expect, I welcome the progress made in these areas
Following receipt of the report, the phase two intervention will support the Chair and newly appointed Interim Chief Executive to agree a clear way forward for the organisation. I expect the health board to work closely with NHS Wales Performance and Improvement to develop and deliver a single organisation-wide improvement plan that responds to the recommendations, addresses the underlying causes of concern, and sets out clear actions, milestones and strengthened accountability arrangements aligned to the escalation framework and de-escalation criteria.
I will chair a meeting with the health board in November 2026 to review progress against the report’s findings and the wider escalation framework. I expect to see sustained improvements across all areas under intervention arrangements, and the assurance that they can be embedded on a continuous basis.
In line with our First 100 Days plan, we are also in the process of reviewing the existing escalation and intervention framework to ensure it can better support improvements in health board performance.
This statement is being issued during recess in order to keep Members informed. Should Members wish me to make a further statement or to answer questions on this when the Senedd returns, I would be happy to do so.
