Earlier this year, the Welsh Conservatives called on the Labour-led Welsh Government to write-off deficits that NHS Wales had accrued. Today (July 7), it was announced by the Health Minister that some £470 million of a total deficit of around £600m would be written off.
Commenting, Shadow Health Minister – Angela Burns MS – said:
“We Welsh Conservatives are of course delighted that our call has been listened to. We made it because it is a pragmatic move that should – with the right management – put hospitals and boards in a stronger position, not just to deal with a post-Covid Wales, but also for the years ahead.
“This move must deliver widespread improvements to services, but with the caveat that mechanisms must be in place to ensure that future spends do not spiral out of control.”
Mrs Burns made her comments on the day it was revealed that troubled Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board – in special measures for more than five years – spent £26.8m on agency staff in 2019-20. It also contracted the services of an interim Recovery Director – who worked from his home in Marbella – for nine months at a reported cost of £353,450, plus expenses of £16,888.