A troubled well being board remains to be dealing with “fundamental challenges”, in keeping with a report.

Wales’ public sector watchdog praised enhancements however confused that additional motion was nonetheless wanted.

The well being board stated it couldn’t touch upon the suspended workers till the investigation was completed.

Betsi Cadwaladr got here below elevated scrutiny final yr after monetary irregularities had been uncovered and “serious concerns” raised about its efficiency, management and tradition.

Adrian Crompton, the auditor basic for Wales, stated vacancies on the board have to be stuffed “as quickly as possible” and “ongoing personnel issues” within the finance division have to be resolved.

Investigations into the suspended workers “have proved to be complicated” and had been nonetheless ongoing, he stated.

A earlier report by the Ernst Young accountancy agency discovered that the finance staff had intentionally made incorrect entries within the accounts, allocating spending to a single monetary yr when it was actually unfold over a number of.

Mr Crompton stated: “It’s assuring to see that the dysfunction within the health board’s senior leadership that we described last year is no longer present.

“There is now a necessity for the board to construct upon this progress and supply the unified organisational management that’s wanted to deal with the numerous and ongoing challenges dealing with the well being board.”

The report was welcomed by the chairman of the health board, Dyfed Edwards.

“I absolutely perceive that there’s way more to be achieved as we proceed on our enchancment journey with a purpose to guarantee wonderful healthcare providers for the folks of north Wales,” he stated.

“Over the final 12 months we’ve labored to create stability and a constructive and supportive tradition throughout the well being board, while specializing in high quality of service provision and reaching out to sufferers and the general public we serve.”

Mr Edwards stated there was now a “agency basis” to build on, with a new chief executive and board members in place.

This is the second time the organisation has been placed under special measures after a five-year stint between 2015 and 2020.

In October, Welsh Secretary David Davies’ name for an unbiased inquiry into the well being board was dismissed by the Welsh authorities which stated it could divert sources and a spotlight from bettering care.