The Betsi runs 20 hospital and coordinates 96 GP practices and 147 pharmacies in Wales, spending £1.2 billion a year.
Today, 23 May 2023 the Daily Mail reported that several of the Betsi most senior officials orchestrated a plot to cover up £10 million of spending by creating fake documents, misleading auditors and their governing board. A forensic report by Ernst & Young (EY) of 25 january 2023 was leaked to the Daily Mail detailing how senior executives at the Betsi sought to hinder EY’s enquiry to preventing from uncovering the scam. The report confirms that Simon Whitehead, head of procurement at NHSSP, in consultation with Nigel McCann, created a fake documentary trail to support the illegal spenditure of £10 million of taxpayers’ money.
Even more sad is the fact that the Welsh government refuses to make the EY report public, and not one of the highly paid officials who faked documents, misled auditors and carried out false accounting has yet faced any consequence. A criminal fraud investigation was dropped a few weeks ago on the grounds that none of the perpetrators personally profited, and those responsible have not be sacked nor disciplined but continue to be paid six-figure salaries, with the exception of Mr Whitehead who was allowed to retire early. Instead, the Welsh government has sacked members of the independent board of Betsi , who were the only ones who did their best to cast light on the scam.