Betsi Cadwaladr’s top job is “too big for one person”, a patient watchdog chief has claimed.

Geoff Ryall-Harvey, chief officer of the North Wales Community Health Council, made the claim following the news that Betsi’s chief executive, Gary Doherty, was stepping down.

Mr Ryall-Harvey said it was time to take a “long, hard look at how the health board is run” in the wake of Mr Doherty’s impending departure.

“It was too big a job for one person,” he said.

“There are other solutions needed than a new chief executive.

“We need a systemic solution not a person.

“The job is beyond one person. It’s not just about the leader. We need root and branch change.”

Board chairman Mark Polin thanked Mr Doherty for his “hard work” and “wished him the very best for the future”.

Mr Polin added: “The board recognises that we need to accelerate the pace of change and it is now time for someone else to lead the next phase of our journey of improvement.”

Mr Doherty, who has been leader of the embattled health board for four years, will take a new role as director of integration at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Mr Doherty, who earned more than £200,000 a year as chief executive, is expected to take up his new post later this month.

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