Clwyd West Assembly Member Darren Millar has urged the Welsh Government to take responsibility for the 30 million overspend facing Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

Darren raised the matter during an Urgent question in the Senedd this week on Local Health Board Overspends.

Addressing the Health Secretary, he said:

“I have to say I find it a little rich that you’re sitting there criticising the Health Boards, telling them that they need to get their act together in terms of the finances, when you’re responsible for one of those Health Boards that is in special measures.

“One of the reasons that the Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board was put into special measures was because of poor financial management. You’ve been there nearly two years and still that financial management is looking like the health board is going to be overdrawn by 30 million at the end of this year.”

He added: “Given that the Health Board is currently in special measures and is being run the Welsh Government, the Cabinet Secretary for Health must accept responsibility for the health board not being able to make ends meet.

“I am concerned that the shortfall could lead to short term service cuts, holding back on recruitment, or the postponement of operations for patients across North Wales.”