Escalation and intervention arrangements in the NHS

20 March 2014
  • A document has been published [Opens in new window] setting out how the Welsh Government, Auditor General for Wales and Healthcare Inspectorate Wales will work together to share information, and respond, when issues of concern become apparent in NHS bodies in Wales.

    Staff from the Wales Audit Office and Healthcare Inspectorate Wales have worked closely with the Welsh Government in developing and agreeing the arrangements, and work will now be progressed to ensure that they are implemented effectively. 

    Welcoming the new arrangements, the Auditor General for Wales, Huw Thomas said:

    In investigating the governance concerns at Betsi Cadwaladr Unversity Health Board last year, it became clear that there was a need for us to review the process by which external review bodies and the Welsh Government share information on how NHS bodies are performing and to ensure that any action that is being taken in response to concerns is co-ordinated and fully informed.  I am pleased that staff from the Wales Audit Office, HIW and Welsh Government have been able to work together to produce this document and I welcome its publication.  We now look forward to implementing the arrangements in practice.