ADDRESSING staffing issues is a key priority for Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board as it looks to overturn a £36m overspend, the board has said.

Betsi Cadwaladr is one of four health boards responsible for a cumulative overspend of almost £163m at the end of the 2017/18 financial year, although the £36m Betsi Cadwaladr overspend is dwarfed by the expected £69.6m overspend at Hywel Dda Health Board.

While the Welsh Government has said it is concerned about the financial figures, a spokesperson for Betsi Cadwaladr, which is in special measures and under the control of the Welsh Government, said the board was working hard to balance its budget with staffing issues identified as a major issue.

The spokesperson said: “We’re working hard to improve our efficiency and make savings over the coming financial year.

“Examples of the measures we are already taking include a reduction in the use of agency and locum staff and the introduction of an intensive recruitment drive. If we recruited to all of our vacant posts, it would lead to a saving of over £1m per month.

“We are also looking at how we can make better use of technology to reduce the amount of staff travel across the health board.

“Small changes such as the introduction of text reminders for missed appointments have also enabled us to achieve significant savings in recent years.”

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “Investment in our NHS is at a record high and Wales already spends considerably more on health and social care per head than in England.

“We are also investing an additional £550m over the next two years, including £100m to help transform the way health and social services are delivered.

“We have been open about our concerns at the failure of Betsi Cadwaladr and Hywel Dda health boards to keep within their control totals.

“Both organisations are forecasting they will overshoot their totals this year, although we have contained these additional overspends within the overall health budget.

“We are managing the challenges within these organisations through our escalation and intervention process.”

The figures show that there is expected to be an overspend of almost £163m within just four health boards - Betsi Cadwaladr, Hywel Dda, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg and Cardiff and Vale.

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