Welsh health board still paying university £110,686 despite value-for-money concerns
Betsi Cadwaladr health board is still paying Bangor University £110,686 this year for two researchers, after a January report questioned the value of its payments.
The story in focus
BBC News reports that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in north Wales is still paying Bangor University £110,686 this financial year for two researchers at its Centre for Mental Health and Society, months after an internal NHS report questioned what services the board receives and whether it gets value for money.
- The health board was due to pay £110,686 this financial year for two researchers at the Centre for Mental Health and Society.
- A January internal NHS report said it was unclear what services the board receives and how beneficial they are to the population of north Wales.
- The report said over £4m of NHS money had been paid to Bangor University by September 2025 and that value for money could not be demonstrated.
- The health board says it is addressing the concerns and commissioning an external review of its research, development and innovation function.
- Llais, the health and social care watchdog, said concerns are not being acted upon fast enough.
Payment continues after critical report
BBC News reported that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board was due to pay Bangor University £110,686 this financial year to fund two researchers in the Centre for Mental Health and Society. The centre is part of Bangor University but is based in Wrexham in offices belonging to the health board.
An internal NHS report written in January said it was unclear what services the health board was receiving and paying for, and how beneficial it was to the population of north Wales. The report said that by September 2025 over £4m of NHS money had been paid to the university under the agreement, and that the board could not demonstrate value for money.
Contract and watchdog response
The agreement between the health board and Bangor University was set up as a five-year contract in 2012 but was not reviewed and was allowed to continue.
Llais, the health and social care watchdog, said the concerns were still not being acted upon fast enough. Geoff Ryall-Harvey, Llais regional director for North Wales, said NHS money is limited and that health boards have to get best value for money.
The health board listed current research topics as students' experience in prison, mental health outcomes and opiate use in primary care.
Health board and university response
Teresa Owen, interim deputy CEO of the health board, said research, development and innovation is an important element of the work of university health boards. She said the board recognised the importance of good governance around research collaborations and was addressing concerns raised in the internal audit review.
Owen said the board was commissioning an external review of its research, development and innovation function, which would also inform strengthened governance.
Both the NHS and Bangor University said they had reviewed the agreement and found no evidence of fraud or misconduct in how it was set up or operated. Bangor University said the centre focuses on research with direct application to mental wellbeing or mental health care and that it remains committed to working constructively with the health board.
What did the January internal NHS report say about the Bangor University agreement?
The report said it was unclear what services the health board receives and pays for, and how beneficial they are to the population of north Wales. It said value for money could not be demonstrated.
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