THE Welsh Government has failed to improve troubled Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board and First Minister Carwyn Jones should be “ashamed” at the lack of progress, the Welsh Conservative interim leader has claimed.

Paul Davies has hit out at the Welsh Government’s management of Betsi Cadwaladr, insisting that despite three years of direct Welsh Government control, there has been little improvement and progress in the health board’s performance.

However, a Welsh Government spokesperson has insisted that improvements are being made at the health board and insisted that the special measures imposed by the Welsh Government were helping to turn the health board around.

During First Minister’s Questions, Mr Davies insisted that patients in north Wales were being let down by the health board and Welsh Government.

He said: “The First Minister should be ashamed of his government’s management of Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board.

“The Ockenden report has shown a frightening catalogue of failures in the delivery of services in north Wales.

“It’s now been three years since the Welsh Government put Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board in special measures and yet over that period, progress has been slow and significant improvements have yet to be made.

“The people of north Wales are right to feel angry and upset at the lack of progress over the past three years in addressing these serious failings.

“There’s clearly a culture of deny, defend and dismiss at the heart of Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board and the First Minister’s government and it’s time the Welsh Government stepped up and took some responsibility.”

But a Welsh Government spokesperson said: “These comments are highly misleading. Progress has been made in a number of areas, including in maternity services which were de-escalated from special measures earlier this year.

“This demonstrates what the health board can achieve with focused leadership and action.

“We take special measures seriously and are working with the health board to provide intensive support to deliver further and sustainable improvements.”

A dedicated improvement group has been set up by the health board following critical reports into the health board.

That group will be chaired by the board’s executive director of nursing and midwifery.