Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has responded to criticism over the value of a manager who works from his home in Spain earning almost £2,000 a day.

AM Paul Davies questioned the First Minister on 5 November, over the value of paying an NHS Wales manager – who works for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board from his home in Spain – almost £2,000 a day.

During First Minister’s Questions, Mr Davies, the Welsh Conservative Assembly leader, asked Mark Drakeford: “Is it acceptable that management consultant Philip Burns will receive more than £360,000 for his nine-month contract with NHS Wales?”

Betsi Cadwaladr health board has been in special measures since June 2015, following a damning mental health services’ report alleging institutional abuse.

Mr Davies pressed further, saying: “[Mr Burns’ fee of] £360,000 could be used to recruit actual doctors and nurses, given that North Wales has the second worst ratio of patients per senior doctor in the UK; spent tackling the high number of patients waiting more than 12 hours in A&E; or used to help prepare the health board for the winter months.”

He then asked Mr Drakeford to accept that his government had failed patients across North Wales, adding: “Can you tell us what you’re doing to rectify this embarrassing situation?”

Mr Davies described the First Minister’s response as “simply not good enough”.

A spokesperson for Betsi Cadwalader University Health Board said: “Our priority is to deliver considerable improvements in unscheduled care, planned care and financial management and to achieve this, we are temporarily strengthening our existing capacity and expertise in these areas.

“Interim staff have been appointed in accordance with our standing financial instructions to undertake specific roles for a short period of time."

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