Despite "an intensive search," an ineffective health board was unable to find a new chief executive.
In the previous four years, there have been four leaders of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which serves north Wales.
Due to failures to address patient safety issues, the Welsh government placed it back under special measures in February. .
But according to management, efforts to find a new chief executive have thus far been fruitless.
In the fall of 2022, Jo Whitehead, the previous CEO, announced her retirement.
In February 2023, questions were raised about the management of the Betsi Cadwaladr health board.
According to a report by Audit Wales, the senior executive team "points to dysfunctionality and factions," and "the whole team is not united" behind the interim chief executive at the time.
The executive team's "clear and deep-seated fractures that are impeding that team's ability to function effectively" were highlighted.
In response, Eluned Morgan, the minister of health, asked the non-executive directors of the health board to step down and placed the organization under special supervision.
At the time, she stated that hiring a new chief executive would be essential to enhancing the effectiveness of the NHS in north Wales.
According to her, "The new chair will lead the recruitment of an individual with necessary vision, leadership, and drive to re-build the workforce's and the public's confidence.".
Additionally, a report by the accountant EY claimed that the health board intentionally made incorrect entries into their own accounts, and that millions of pounds were misreported by the health board.
The chief executive position was advertised earlier this year, with salaries ranging from £208,000 to £225,000 annually. However, the health board has now confirmed that no one has been hired.
Dyfed Edwards, chairman of the health board, stated: "A further intensive search will recommence in the coming months as a result of the failure of our campaign to appoint a new chief executive.
"This is a very important position, and it is crucial that we choose the best candidate to create the culture that will lead the company into a more promising future. ".
The Powys Teaching Health Board has been seconding the current interim chief executive officer Carol Shillabeer since her appointment in May 2023.
"In the interim, I'm happy that Carol Shillabeer will continue in the role of interim chief executive," Mr. Edwards continued.
"Carol has extensive experience serving as NHS Wales' chief executive and in clinical leadership positions, and she is working hard with colleagues from across the health board to ensure that we experience a period of stability while advancing in addressing some of our major challenges. ".
"Given the health board's reputation, it is not surprising that recruiting a new chief executive is proving to be a challenge," said Conservative Senedd Member (MS) Darren Millar, whose Clwyd West constituency is serviced by the Betsi Cadwaladr health board.
"Anyone taking the helm will not only face a challenging task in improving the performance of the NHS in north Wales, but they will also have to deal with a dysfunctional executive team, the majority of whom ought to have been fired a long time ago.
"Removing the current executive team is the best way to attract a new chief executive so that an incoming CEO can appoint a team with the integrity and culture that people should, quite reasonably, expect of senior managers working in our NHS," he said.
An interim chief executive will continue in the position while a new search is conducted for a qualified candidate, according to the health board, which is the largest organization in the Welsh NHS.
