CARDIGAN’S Same Day Urgent Care (SDUC) service will open for longer over the next two weekends as Hywel Dda University Health Board responds to increased demand across the local health system.

The service, based at Cardigan Integrated Care Centre (SA43 1JX), brings together urgent GP-style care, minor injuries and some same-day urgent treatment in one place. It is aimed at people who need urgent help for illnesses or injuries that are not life-threatening, and offers an alternative to attending an emergency department.

The SDUC unit will be open from 9.00am to 5.00pm on:

Saturday, January 24 and Sunday, January 25
Saturday, January 31 and Sunday, February 1

Patients are asked to call 01239 807019 before attending wherever possible, to speak to a triage nurse who can offer advice and, if appropriate, arrange an appointment time.

Hywel Dda stressed that the extended weekend opening is a short-term, temporary measure. Outside the dates listed, the service will continue to operate during its usual weekday hours, Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 6.00pm.

The health board also confirmed that X-ray facilities will not be available during the weekend openings. However, patients are still being encouraged to phone the triage line for guidance before travelling to the site.

Andrew Carruthers, Chief Operating Officer at Hywel Dda University Health Board said: “We are temporarily extending the opening of the Cardigan Same Day Urgent Care service over the next two weekends to help manage current pressures across our health system.

“If you feel that you, or a loved one, needs to attend, please phone us on 01239 807019 before coming. This helps ensure people receive the right care, in the right place, and at the right time.”

Anyone unsure which service they need can find advice via the health board’s “Help us help you” guidance online, covering services across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.

THANKS to generous donations, Hywel Dda Health Charities, the official charity of Hywel Dda University Health Board, has funded a Sorrento tilt and recliner chair worth £2,694 for Ward 4, the Cardiology and Gastroenterology Ward at Prince Philip Hospital.

The Sorrento tilt and recliner chair is designed to maximise patient comfort when sitting out of bed, providing postural support and pressure redistribution. It is adaptable to the needs of each patient, with seat depth and width adjustability, a removable seat cushion, and a variable back angle and footplate.

Julia Hippsley, Senior Sister, said: “We’re incredibly grateful that generous donations to Angharad Ward have enabled us to purchase the new Sorrento tilt and recliner chair for Ward 4.

“This chair will be a great help in caring for the patients who are unable to sit in a normal chair. The tilt and recliner chair allows these patients to be transferred from bed, offering independence and promoting their wellbeing.”

Nicola Llewelyn, Head of Hywel Dda Health Charities, the official charity of Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “We are delighted to have been able to fund the new Sorrento chair for Ward 4. Thanks to the generosity of our local communities, we’re able to fund items and activities which go beyond what the NHS can normally offer. Every donation makes a difference, and we are deeply grateful for each one.”

For more details about the charity and how you can help support local NHS patients and staff, go to https://hywelddahealthcharities.nhs.wales/

New plan promises more care closer to home, ‘Digital First’ services, and stronger focus on prevention

HYWEL DDA UNIVERSITY HEALTH BOARD will consider a refreshed version of its long-term health and care strategy at a public board meeting on Thursday (Jan 29).

The proposed strategy, titled A Healthier Mid and West Wales – Healthier lives, well lived, sets out the Health Board’s priorities up to 2040 and updates ambitions first published in 2018.

Health chiefs say the refreshed plan does not change Hywel Dda’s core aim of helping people live healthier lives for longer, with a stronger emphasis on preventing ill-health and supporting people to stay well. Instead, it updates the strategy to reflect changing needs across the region, alongside wider pressures on health and care services including rising demand and the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The strategy sets out how clinical developments, new digital tools and community facilities could provide more opportunities to offer help earlier and closer to home, while outlining how services may need to adapt in the years ahead.

Hywel Dda said the draft refresh has been shaped by engagement with communities, staff and partners across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. The engagement took place in two phases between July and November 2025 and involved almost 3,000 people.

Residents were asked what matters most to them in living a healthier life, as well as being invited to share views on priorities for health and care. The Health Board said feedback was used to develop four key themes which underpin the refreshed strategy: thriving teams, healthier communities, great care and positive futures.

During the engagement, people consistently raised concerns about the distance they have to travel to access healthcare. The Health Board said the refreshed strategy aims to deliver more care closer to where people live, with greater support in communities and at home.

The plan also outlines an expanded role for digital services, including easier access to advice, appointment booking and test results. The Health Board said it intends to create a ‘Digital First’ service designed to connect homes, communities and hospitals.

The refreshed strategy also builds on work started in 2018 on a Social Model for Health and Wellbeing, which aims to shift services away from mainly reacting to illness and towards preventing ill-health earlier, with prevention described as a central priority for improving health and reducing long-term demand.

Hywel Dda Chief Executive Professor Phil Kloer said: “Our communities have been clear about what matters most to them. People want fair access to care, strong local services, and support to stay well in their daily lives.

“This proposed strategy refresh is about listening to that feedback and setting a clear direction for how we work together over the next 15 years. Our strategy focuses on health and keeping people well, not just treating illness.

“It is also guided by our values of belonging, growth and working together. These values continue to emphasise the importance of putting people first, improving our services, and supporting each other to deliver the best care possible.

“We will continue to work with our communities and the individuals who play a vital role in shaping our social model for health and wellbeing.”

Lee Davies, Hywel Dda’s Executive Director of Strategy and Planning, said delivering the refreshed plan would require “a more radical approach” to how care is provided.

He said: “The principles of our 2018 strategy remain the same, but the world around us has changed. This refresh ensures our vision, goals and priorities reflect today’s challenges and opportunities.

“We will continue to move towards prevention, wellbeing and primary and community care, supported by digital solutions where appropriate. Most importantly, it shows how what people told us is being reflected in our plans.”

The Health Board said that if the refreshed strategy is approved, it will be finalised and published in multiple accessible formats. Work with communities, staff and partners would continue as delivery plans are developed, and the strategy would be regularly reviewed to reflect changes and developments in health needs across the region.