The independent assessment report has been published by NHS Wales Performance and Improvement as part of the Level 4 intervention support initiated in July 2025.

Mabon ap Gwynfor MS, cabinet minister for health and care, said: ‘The report is clear that the health board's challenges are systemic and long-standing, requiring organisational reset, a single recovery plan, stronger accountability, assurance and cultural change. Under this new Welsh Government, we will not allow such issues to continue, and we will robustly hold the health board to account for its performance.'

The minister welcomed improvements in board oversight and development under the health boards, new chair, however, while acknowledging there remained some way to go.

The cabinet minister will chair a meeting with the health board in November 2026 to review progress against the report's findings and the wider escalation framework.

Chris Bown, interim chief executive of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, said: ‘We take the findings of the report extremely seriously and recognise that there are a number of areas requiring improvement - these must be addressed at pace.'

Brown said the health board had already begun work in a number of areas, including strengthening governance arrangements, supporting leadership development and bringing improvement activity together through a single Integrated Improvement Plan.

He welcomed recognition of positive progress in addressing some longstanding behavioural challenges at the health board.