A councillor’s bid to ask that the health board be put in special measures will be examined further.

The call to recognise the “runaway train of incompetence” at Hywel Dda health Board will be discussed at a private seminar for councillors and the results reported to February’s full council.

Clr. Paul Dowson’s Notice of Motion to write to Welsh Government to ask for special measures was not backed by the partnerships overview and scrutiny committee on Thursday, January 10, falling by four votes to six.

In support of his notice Clr. Dowson said there was “no excuse” for the £69.6million deficit and struggling to recruit was “not a justification it’s an excuse.”

He also referred to patient waiting time targets being missed and a lack of public trust.

Clr. Dowson was supported by Clr. Stephen Joseph who said councillors “represent people that aren’t being cared for properly.”

The idea that full council be given a chance to put their name to a letter to the Health Minister was put by Clr. Phil Kidney while Clr. Pearl Llewellyn highlighted that she had been asked by a number of people to support the motion.

Committee chairman Clr. David Bryan asked if a better opportunity to raise the matter had been at October’s scrutiny meeting where health board chiefs attend, but Clr. Dowson did not.

Clr. Simon Hancock, a member of Hywel Dda Health Board, said it was resolved at that meeting to “work with them proactively to develop new models of care.”

Others questioned what special measures would achieve, with Cllr Michael Williams saying “no progress” had been made at Betsi Cadwaladr since Welsh Government intervened three years ago.

Clr. Bryan’s proposal that health board bosses be asked to come to a seminar and then the results reported to February’s full council was agreed, eight votes to one, with one abstention.