The Welsh Government has awarded £1.2m to support an innovative new collaboration in South and West Wales.
A Regional Collaboration for Health, known as ARCH, is a partnership between Abertawe Bro Morgannwg and Hywel Dda university health boards and Swansea University, which also includes local authorities, the Swansea Bay City Region Board and other key stakeholders.
ARCH aims to join up research, education, service improvement and innovative technologies to drive economic development and strengthen healthcare services.
It will develop new services based on the principles of prudent healthcare across Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire, Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend, focusing on bringing care closer to people’s homes, preventing avoidable hospital admissions and promoting integrated community services.
Health and Social Services Minister, Mark Drakeford said:
“I welcome the health boards’ commitment to jointly lead this collaboration, working closely with university and local authority partners. The ARCH programme has made good progress during the last year and I hope this Welsh Government support will help to maintain the pace.
“Through the ARCH project, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg and Hywel Dda university health boards will be able to drive their future development in ways which genuinely integrate health and care services, using new technologies and services to improve access to care, which are personalised to each patient, available at a time and place which is convenient to them throughout the region.”
Professor Andrew Davies, chair of Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board, said:
“This significant backing from the Welsh Government demonstrates the confidence and belief in the ARCH ethos and its work.
“ARCH will not only give us the opportunity to deliver a world-class healthcare service for people and communities in South and West Wales, but it will bring a massive boost to the local economy and help to create new jobs for the people of South and West Wales.
“It will also lead the way in innovation and research by helping to develop cutting-edge technology and treatments, which will be of real benefit to our patients.”
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