The departure of Betsi Cadwaladr’s chief executive won’t be enough on its own to improve the board’s performance, AMs have said.

Both Plaid Cymru and Welsh Conservative AMs have said that Betsi, which is still in special measures and under Welsh Government control, needs to make major improvements and said that had not been happening under outgoing chief executive Gary Doherty.

The health board announced that Mr Doherty was leaving to join Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Simon Dean, the deputy chief executive of NHS Wales, is taking on the role on an interim basis from Monday, 10 February.

But Rhun ap Iorwerth, Plaid Cymru’s shadow minister for health, said: “After five years in special measures, change in personnel in Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board simply isn’t enough in itself.

“The situation in Betsi is symptomatic of a wider problem impacting our NHS.

“It is the Labour Welsh Government who are in charge and they must take responsibility for the poor performance, worsening A&E waiting times, centralisation and loss of local services.

“It has to stop.

“We need real change and Plaid Cymru can deliver that.

“Patients and staff deserve no less.”

Llyr Gruffydd, regional North Wales AM, added: “This is the right decision and long overdue.

“I called for Mr Doherty to go in the Plaid Cymru debate on NHS performance last week and I’m glad that he’s gone.

“We should have seen greater improvement in this four years in charge.”

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