The Welsh Labour Government has today announced that another health board – this time Cwm Taf – will have its escalation status raised from ‘routine arrangements’ to ‘enhanced monitoring’ given concerns over its performance.

In a statement to Assembly Members, the Health Minister, Vaughan Gething, said the decision has been made ‘to recognise a number of areas of concern relating to quality governance arrangements’, which include concerns about the health board’s maternity services, its failure to complete action following inspections and its compliance with the Nurse Staffing Act.

Commenting on the announcement, regional assembly member for South Wales Central, Andrew RT Davies AM said:

“I’m very concerned to learn that one of the health board's in my region, Cwm Taf, has been placed into 'enhanced monitoring' status by the Labour Welsh Government.

“The Health Minister has highlighted a number of significant and troubling concerns including the health board’s ability to deliver maternity services and comply with the Nurse Staffing Act.

“Sadly, this is yet another troubling situation at a Welsh health board following on from a long list of problems elsewhere in the NHS right across Wales.

“This is also particularly worrying given the emphatic confidence the new First Minister only showed on Monday in the ability of Welsh health boards to deliver for patients. This was clearly misplaced.

“Regrettably, patients across South Wales and the Valleys continue to be let down by failures in leadership and it’s clear that the Welsh Labour Government’s historical mismanagement and underfunding of our NHS is having disastrous consequences.

“Ministers must now ensure that resources are available to turn this situation around at the health board as soon as possible."

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