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Improving Health Services Together: Regional Joint Committee (RJC)

24 April 2026

We are pleased to announce that regional working in south west Wales has now formally transitioned from ARCH (A Regional Collaboration for Health) to the South West Wales Regional Joint Committee (RJC).

What is changing?

In March 2024, the Minister for Health and Social Services asked the two health boards to establish a regional joint committee to provide joint leadership for the planning, commissioning and delivery of services.

Since 2015, ARCH has brought together Swansea Bay and Hywel Dda university health boards and Swansea University to improve health services, develop new treatments, and support innovation across our region. Building on this strong foundation, the RJC has now taken over to provide even clearer leadership and coordination for health services that matter to you.

What does this mean for patients, families and communities?

  • Continued access to high-quality care: All the regional programmes you may have heard about - such as improvements in orthopaedics, eye care, pathology, diagnostics, cancer, stroke, urgent and emergency care, and vascular services - will continue to be delivered and developed under the RJC. This means ongoing work to reduce waiting times, improve access to specialist services, and introduce new ways of working that benefit patients across south west Wales.
  • Better joined-up services: The RJC brings together both health boards under a single leadership structure, making it easier to plan and deliver services that meet the needs of our communities, wherever you live in the region.
  • Focus on innovation and improvement: The RJC will continue to support research, new technology, and partnerships with universities and other organisations, helping to bring the latest advances in healthcare to our local population.
  • Listening to you: The RJC is committed to working with patients, families, and communities to shape services that are responsive, accessible, and designed around your needs.

Why is this important?

By working together as a region, we can make the best use of resources, share expertise, and ensure that everyone benefits from improvements in care - whether that’s faster diagnosis, access to new treatments, or more joined-up support when you need it most.

We would like to thank all patients, families, and community members for your ongoing support and engagement. Your feedback and involvement are vital as we continue to improve health and care services across south west Wales.

If you have questions or would like to find out more about regional health programmes, please contact the RJC PMO RJC.PMO@wales.nhs.uk