Patient safety concerns at a north Wales hospital have triggered demands for the chief executive of Betsi Cadwaladr health board to step down, following inspections that revealed persistent challenges in the emergency department at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Denbighshire. Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) conducted an initial assessment in May 2026 and identified significant deficiencies, with a follow-up evaluation in August showing some progress but indicating that substantial work remained necessary.
Darren Millar, leader of the Welsh Conservatives and a representative for the area, has called for Carol Shillabeer, the health board's chief executive, to resign.
"Some people are dying because the services in the emergency department at Glan Clwyd hospital aren't good enough,"Millar stated on BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, arguing that staff found to be incompetent in clinical roles would face removal from the profession and that senior managers responsible for poor decisions should face the same consequences.
What did the inspections find?
The May 2026 inspection by HIW identified several immediate assurance concerns requiring urgent intervention by the health board. These included deficiencies in waiting area safety, paediatric emergency care provision, medicines and equipment management, and safeguarding oversight. According to HIW's designation statement, the department had previously been subject to special scrutiny arrangements from May 2022 to August 2024, and the latest findings demonstrated that earlier improvements had not been sustained.
A survey of 660 patients, relatives and carers revealed experiences marked by extended waiting periods, overcrowding, and concerns about privacy and dignity, though respondents also acknowledged the dedication and professionalism demonstrated by staff members. The follow-up visit conducted over two days in August documented improvements in staff wellbeing and engagement, patient flow management, and paediatric governance structures. However, challenges persisted in waiting room oversight and in reducing delays for medical and surgical referrals.
What is the health board's response?
Shillabeer issued an apology
"unreservedly"to patients who had not
"receive the care they deserve"and confirmed that
"all required actions from the inspection report"were underway. She attributed the department's difficulties to
"significant and longstanding systemic issues"that
"compound the pressures in a constantly busy department."The health board stated it remained
"committed to assuring HIW and our public that we are serious about improving people's experiences"in its emergency departments.
What does the opposition say?
Millar rejected what he characterised as
"hollow apologies,"contending that accountability must extend to senior leadership.
"If we've got incompetent senior leaders that are making decisions which are having life-changing consequences and they get those decisions seriously wrong, then they should also never be allowed to work in the NHS again,"he said. His position reflects frustration among opposition figures that management changes have not accompanied the documented failings.
What is the government's position?
Mabon ap Gwynfor, Welsh government minister for health and care, acknowledged the
"seriousness"of HIW's findings and confirmed that the health board had established
"immediate and longer-term improvement plans."He welcomed
"early signs of progress in several areas"but indicated that developments would remain under close scrutiny. An independent review of leadership, governance and culture at the health board was expected to report at the end of October 2026.
What happens next?
According to HIW's latest designation, the department remains under its Service of Concern process, with ongoing structured engagement and assurance activity to continue until the inspectorate is satisfied that required improvements have been achieved. HIW published a report on 10 September 2026 reaffirming that the emergency department still faces serious patient safety and governance concerns following the May inspection. HIW indicated that enhanced monitoring would focus not only on whether actions had been completed, but also on whether they were delivering measurable improvements, reducing risk and making a sustained difference to patient and staff experience. The independent review of the health board's leadership and governance structures is scheduled to deliver its findings by the end of October 2026.
Key Facts
- HIW identified immediate assurance concerns in May 2026 relating to waiting area safety, paediatric emergency care, medicines management, and safeguarding oversight
- A follow-up inspection in August 2026 found progress in staff wellbeing and patient flow but persistent challenges in waiting room oversight and referral delays
- The emergency department had previously been under special scrutiny from May 2022 to August 2024 before being redesignated in summer 2026
- An independent review of the health board's leadership, governance and culture is due to report by the end of October 2026
- The department remains under HIW's Service of Concern process with ongoing monitoring until improvements are deemed satisfactory
