Skip to main content

What has happened so far?

Phase 1

As part of the first phase of the review, a survey was shared with patients in October and November 2023, to capture their views of using our services included in the Clinical Services Plan. Staff were also invited to share their views by completing a survey during September and October 2023. The initial phase for Primary Care and Community invited General Medical Services (GMS), Community Pharmacy, General Dental Services and Optometry Services, as well as the out of hours and community dental workforce, to share their feedback through the completion of a survey. The survey was open between November 2023 and January 2024.

An issues paper has been developed that highlights a broad range of factors that impact on our services and includes the feedback gained through the staff, patient and contractor surveys. The issues paper was presented to our Health Board’s Public Board meeting on 28 March 2024. The issues paper can be found here (opens in new tab). 

Phase 2

Following the submission of the issues paper to Public Board, the nine service areas (with the exception of Primary Care and Community) reviewed the issues impacting each service at workshops that included service and service user representatives. The workshops developed a set of potential options that will support and improve these services over the coming years. The options development in Phase 2 for delivery of the Clinical Services Plan Programme, is based on the principles of care that is safe, sustainable, accessible and kind. 

A graphic below shows an 8-step process that includes establishing interdependencies, establishing hurdle criteria, holding deliberative sessions and developing options. The options are then checked and challenged before they are reviewed and shortlisted. The final step is to score the options ahead of presenting them to the public board meeting in November 2024.  Phase two started in April and ended in September 2024. You can read more about this part of the process in our FAQs here. (opens in new tab)

Phase 3

A public consultation ran for 12 weeks from Monday 2 June 2025 to Sunday 31 August 2025. During the consultation we sought the views of our communities on the proposed options for change across the nine clinical services. The Health Board and an independent company, Opinion Research Services, are now reviewing around 4,000 responses to a questionnaire as well as feedback from events and engagement activities.

The Board will receive an update on the work to collect and review feedback from the consultation in its November 2025 meeting.  An extraordinary Board meeting to make decisions on the future of the nine service, will now take place in February 2026. It is planned to publish a consultation report in January 2026 ahead of Board making their decision.

The next step for Primary Care and Community is the development of a strategy that will set out the principles and standards required to provide safe and sustainable Primary Care and Community services.  A period of early engagement with staff, stakeholders and our communities took place during September 2024, in relation to Primary Care and Community services. 

Thank you for your continued support while we work to improve our services.

 

If you would like to share your views about your experiences of using any of the services outlined in the Clinical Services Plan programme please get in touch by:

If you would like to be kept informed about developments on one or more of the above services, please share your contact details as above, and note the service/s you wish to be informed about (e.g. Urology /Ophthalmology).

If you would like to kept up-to-date on developments generally within Hywel Dda University Health Board, you can join Siarad Iechyd/Talking Health by contacting the above or go to the Siarad Iechyd/Talking Health website (opens in new tab). 

Follow us on:
Share: