Message from Powys Teaching Health Board:
Powys communities and PTHB staff are passionate about health services, and they have a special place in the life of our county.
But together we face some important and complex choices about the future. An ageing population, growing burden of ill health, fewer people of working age – all these factors mean that bold ideas are needed.
As a health board we care deeply about the health and wellbeing of our residents. This is why we have established the Better Together programme, working with staff, patients, communities and partner organisations to explore potential options for safe, high quality and sustainable services in the future. This work is helping us develop and test ideas, understand the benefits and risks of different approaches, and guide further work to secure the future of NHS services in Powys.
It is vital that we take the time to carefully consider a wide range of options – looking at how we strengthen primary and community services, how we improve prevention and public health, and how we provide bed-based care in the best possible way for the future.
No decisions have been made, and none will be made until there has been full and meaningful consultation with our staff and the public, which we expect to take place from September.
More information will be available later this summer and we strongly encourage everyone to get involved and share their views.
As we move into consultation, people will have the opportunity to look at the proposals, challenge our thinking, tell us what we have got right, tell us what we have got wrong and help shape the decisions that follow.
This is about ensuring that the people of Powys continue to have access to safe, high-quality health services for many years to come.
And that’s why these conversations matter so much.
This information is also available from our public website: Powys Residents urged to share their views as part of Better Together consultation later this year.
Why is the Better Together programme so important?
As we look ahead to the next ten years and beyond we know more people in Powys are living longer, often with multiple and more complex health needs. At the same time, the proportion of working-age people is reducing, which has real implications for our workforce and the sustainability of services. We also know that new technologies and treatments will become available, and that a concerted focus on prevention will be needed if we are to stem the tide of ill health that risks overwhelming the future of the NHS.
This presents all of us in Powys with both opportunities and challenges. So, through our Better Together programme, we have been listening carefully to the voices of staff, patients, citizens and partner organisations to help shape a safe and thriving future for health care in our rural county.
The feedback from patients, residents, communities and partner organisations shows a clear desire for ambitious steps to provide more care in the county, to provide more care in people’s own homes and to focus more strongly on primary & community care and on prevention, so that the NHS can continue to meet people’s needs into the future.
What has happened so far?
This work is initially focusing on adult physical and mental health community services. Future phases will review Planned Care, and Women & Children’s Services.
We are tremendously grateful to the thousands of voices that have contributed to this work so far:
- Bringing your experience and insights to help us understand the Case for Change
- Sharing your views on potential ways to provide health services in the future
- Providing detailed feedback that has helped us understand the opportunities and challenges for community services, primary care, mental health, and diagnostics
- Sharing your thoughts during our listening events
What ideas are being considered?
There are categorically no plans to close any hospitals in Powys. But it is right that we take the time to carefully consider a wide range of options – looking at how we strengthen primary and community services, and how we provide bed-based care in the best possible way for the future.
Detailed options are due to be shared for consultation later this year following thorough assessment. These options reflect the scenarios and ideas that have been put forward by staff, public and stakeholders – looking at how we strengthen primary and community services, how we improve prevention and public health, and how we provide bed-based care in the best possible way for the future.
Last summer we undertook a major programme of listening and engagement to consider a range of scenarios put forward by staff, public and stakeholders included:
No change– “no change” is not feasible option, as change is needed to ensure that health services are safe and sustainable for the future.- Minor changes and developments to the way we provide physical and mental health community services.
- More services provided within “centres of excellence” including in Rural Regional Centres. This would mean that some of our services (such as hospital beds) are provided in fewer locations than now.
- Developing and expanding the range of services available at home through strengthened primary and community teams.
- Inpatient care, including community hospital beds, is provided outside the county in neighbouring health boards.
Provide a District General Hospital in Powys– this is not an option as the sparsely populated nature of Powys means there are no safe or feasible options for providing District General Hospital in Powys.
Since last summer, scenario 5 has also been discounted and community hospital beds will continue to be provided in the county.
Full information about the scenarios put forward during our community engagement last summer are available from our Better Together engagement website.
How can I get involved now?
We would strongly encourage everyone to read and respond to our Case for Change. Your views, your experiences and your ideas are essential in helping us shape the right solutions for the future. You can share your feedback by writing to us at Better Together, Glasbury House, Bronllys Hospital, Bronllys LD3 OLY or by email to powys.bettertogether@wales.nhs.uk
You can also sign up for our regular newsletters to keep you up to date with the latest news at Sign up to our free email news bulletins.
What happens next?
No decisions have been made, and none will be made until there has been full and meaningful consultation with our staff and the public about the future of community services in Powys. We expect this consultation to take place from September and ask important questions such as:
- How do we ensure a greater focus on preventing ill health?
- How do we strengthen primary and community services so that more people are supported to stay well in the county, and fewer people need admission to hospital?
- What is the right way to provide bed-based services in the future?
Plans for this consultation are currently being developed. We will ensure that more information is shared later this summer, with opportunities across the county for residents to find out more and get involved. In the meantime, please sign up for our regular newsletters to stay up to date with the latest news at Sign up to our free email news bulletins.
It will take courage and vision to make the right decisions for the future of Powys, and we are committed to working with you to do this.
| Adrian Osborne Better Together Powys Teaching Health Board Bronllys Hospital Bronllys Brecon Powys LD3 0LY | |
| powys.gwellagydangilydd@wales.nhs.uk | powys.bettertogether@wales.nhs.uk |
| Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth yn y Gymraeg neu’r Saesneg We welcome correspondence in Welsh or English | |
Vale of Grwyney Community Council 