The clinical services plan

1.4 Given the challenges, the Health Board has developed a Clinical Services Plan (CSP), with options to change nine services. These services are critical care, dermatology, emergency general surgery, endoscopy, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, radiology, stroke, and urology. 

1.5 In summary, the plan seeks to: 

• respond to the fragility of the critical care and emergency general surgery services. 
• improve standards and outcomes, and address staffing challenges in the stroke service. 
• improve access to, and reduce waiting times for, planned care patients (ophthalmology, dermatology, urology and orthopaedics) and diagnostics (endoscopy and radiology). 

The journey so far 

1.6 The first phase in 2023 engaged more than 6,000 stakeholders and looked at the factors affecting these services. This led to the development of an Issues Paper. Phase two in 2024 developed potential future options for the nine service areas, and engaged a range of stakeholder groups to examine and refine options. Finally, phase 3 involved public consultation on the shortlisted options reported here, to give as wide a range of people as possible a chance to comment on the proposals.  

The commission 

1.7 Opinion Research Services (ORS) was appointed to advise on and independently manage some aspects of the consultation programme, as outlined below.