Hywel Dda UHB launches Clinical Services Plan consultation
People can share their views about how nine healthcare services could be delivered in hospitals and community facilities in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire, as Hywel Dda University Health Board launched a public consultation at its Board meeting today (Thursday, 29 May 2025).
The Clinical Services Plan consultation focuses on nine healthcare services most in need of support and aimed at addressing fragilities, improving standards, or reducing waiting times for people in need of diagnosis and treatment.
The services included are critical care, dermatology, emergency general surgery, endoscopy, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, radiology, stroke and urology. There are no changes to how people access emergency care (A&E) or minor injury care as part of this consultation (there is an ongoing separate consultation on minor injury care at Prince Philip Hospital, in Llanelli).
There are several options for each service in the consultation that may impact on how they are organised in local hospitals.
The consultation will run until 31 August 2025 and will seek the views of staff, patients, partners and communities, including those who use these services from bordering areas in south Gwynedd, north Powys and Swansea / Neath Port Talbot.
Medical Director Mr Mark Henwood said: “No decisions have been made on the options presented, and there are currently no preferred solutions. The changes we are looking to make are to ensure we have safe, high-quality services and affordable healthcare in the future, and have at their heart the best interests of the people of west Wales and their patient experience.”
“We ask that you review the consultation documents and share your views on which options you believe are best able to address service fragilities, improve standards, or reduce waiting times.”
“We want to listen to your concerns or potential impacts you think options may have and your views on the future role of our hospitals. We also welcome any alternative options or ideas you may have.”
The Health Board will consider what they have heard in consultation, as well as supporting evidence and data gathered. This is due to be discussed at the Health Board meeting in November 2025, unless a high volume of feedback requires additional analysis, in which case it may be reviewed at a later meeting.
Mr Henwood added: “The launch of this consultation marks an important step in shaping how we deliver care across nine clinical services that are currently under pressure. I encourage everyone to take part, by either completing the questionnaire or joining one of our events. Your insights, ideas and feedback will help us to make informed decisions.”
People can share their views by completing a questionnaire or attending public events, in-person, or online.
Information about the consultation, including event details, the questionnaire and documents in accessible formats and languages, is available on the Health Board’s dedicated consultation webpages: https://hduhb.nhs.wales/clinical-services-consultation