Staff and patients have their say on future of health care

Hywel Dda University Health Board staff, including clinicians, are working with patient representatives and stakeholders to consider potential support and change for services that are under the most pressure.

The health board is developing a Clinical Services Plan for nine healthcare services in need of support – critical care, emergency general surgery, stroke, endoscopy, radiology, dermatology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics and urology.

To achieve this, the health board is speaking to staff, patients and partner organisations and carrying out different types of workshops to find out what the issues are, to discuss new ideas, and to test them against measures and requirements that are important to communities in the Hywel Dda area.

In Autumn 2023, patients who had used the services included in the Plan during the past five years and staff, were invited to fill out surveys to share their views about the nine healthcare services.  This has already enabled the health board to write a paper to describe to its Board the issues affecting these services.

The issues paper was presented to the Health Board’s Public Board meeting on 28 March 2024. Hywel Dda then invited people who had expressed an interest into a clinically led group with representation from staff, service users and stakeholders to develop ideas further.

The health board held a workshop – a deliberative event – in April 2024 so members of the group could share their different skills and experiences further and discuss potential options for services in the future. More than 80 people attended.

Mark Henwood, Interim Medical Director said: “As part of the Clinical Services Programme, we want to ensure our patient’s voice is represented. We are fortunate that patient representatives, as well as our staff, clinical staff, and other stakeholders, have been willing to commit their time to provide this input.

“We are engaging with patient representatives from across the three counties, who were invited to take part in these workshops based on a random selection process to ensure fairness and transparency. More workshops are planned between now and the summer.”

Lee Davies, Executive Director of Strategy and Planning said: “Our clinicians and services will be considering everything we have heard and are working to develop service options for consideration by the Health Board in its September 2024 meeting. We will keep the public and our staff and stakeholders involved and informed.  If we develop potential options, we will engage with our communities to understand what the impact of any changes would be.'”

Members of the public can keep up to date with the health board’s work on the Clinical Services Plan here: hduhb.nhs.wales/about-us/healthier-mid-and-west-wales/clinical-services-plan/. Anyone wishing to take part in future engagement or would like to be kept up-to-date on developments within Hywel Dda University Health Board can join our engagement scheme: hduhb.nhs.wales/healthcare/services-and-teams/siarad-iechyd-talking-health/.