HYWEL DDA UNIVERSITY HEALTH BOARD will hold an Extraordinary Board meeting over two days next month to consider the future model for nine key services included in its Clinical Services Plan.

The meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 18 and Thursday, February 19, 2026, and will focus on options for change in critical care, dermatology, emergency general surgery, endoscopy, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, stroke, radiology and urology.

The Health Board recently consulted with local communities on proposals designed to tackle service fragilities, improve standards and reduce waiting times for people needing diagnosis and treatment.

Mark Henwood, Executive Medical Director, said the current model cannot continue.

“We know that these services are fragile and cannot continue as they are. Our clinical teams are spread across multiple sites and recruitment is an issue across the NHS,” he said.

“Our hospitals require ongoing maintenance, with some parts approaching or having reached the end of their intended lifespan. We need to make decisions on the changes needed to address these fragilities, so our services raise standards and meet the needs of our population into the future.”

An independent consultation report prepared by Opinion Research Services (ORS) has now been received and is available on the Health Board’s website. The report summarises feedback from the public consultation, including more than 4,000 questionnaire responses, alongside views gathered at public events, staff meetings and stakeholder sessions. More than 4,000 people also attended Health Board events and meetings during the consultation.

At the February meeting, Board members will consider the ORS report alongside a wider evidence pack, including an update on what has changed since the Issues Paper was published in March 2024. The Issues Paper set out the challenges facing the nine services and why change was needed. The update brings together the latest information on workforce and service resilience, the condition of estates, operational pressures, regional working, new clinical standards and how services link to each other.

The Board will also review refreshed impact assessments, which set out the likely effects of the proposed changes on people, services and the environment, and how negative impacts could be reduced. These include Equality Impact Assessments (EqIAs), looking at the impact on people with protected characteristics and Welsh language needs, and Quality Impact Assessments (QIAs), considering patient safety, effectiveness and experience.

Health, environmental and climate sustainability impacts will also be considered, alongside transport analysis for emergency transfers and non-emergency patient transport, and programme assessments covering capital requirements, workforce and finance.

As part of the decision-making process, proposals will be assessed on whether they are clinically sustainable, deliverable, accessible, aligned with the Health Board’s long-term strategy, and financially sustainable.

In some cases, the Board may make provisional decisions which require further engagement or additional information before a final option is agreed. The Board will also consider how any changes could be implemented and whether this would need to happen in phases.

The Health Board said it has worked with clinical leaders to develop the options, and that consultation feedback is a vital part of the process. Alongside the options consulted on, Board members will also consider alternative ideas put forward during the consultation.

Dr Neil Wooding, Chair of Hywel Dda University Health Board, thanked those who took part.

“Thank you to everyone who shared their views during the consultation. The Board will be carefully considering the independent ORS consultation report alongside the latest evidence and impact assessments,” he said.

“The consultation report provides an important foundation for our discussions, but it is one of several factors that we must consider. We have a responsibility to weigh public feedback together with clinical evidence, workforce considerations, sustainability challenges and the need for services to meet the highest possible standards.”

“These decisions will shape our services for the longer term, so it is essential that we take the time needed to reach well informed, balanced conclusions. Above all, we must ensure that the services we provide meet people’s needs, both now and into the future.”

Lee Davies, Executive Director of Strategy and Planning, said the aim of the plan is to strengthen services and improve outcomes.

“Community and staff feedback helps us focus on what matters most to people, while programme assessments show what is practical and safe to deliver,” he said. “Together, we will identify changes we can make now, those that need more detailed planning and where further engagement is the right next step.”

The Extraordinary Board meeting will be broadcast online. Board papers and a link to the meeting will be published on the Health Board’s website a week in advance.

More information on the Clinical Services Plan, including the full ORS report, is available on the Health Board’s website.

A FOOTPATH overlooking Pembroke’s historic castle has been closed on health and safety grounds after a landslip, with residents warned to stay away from the closed area after a member of the public had to receive medical treatment.

A Pembrokeshire County Council statement on the footpath closure from the town’s Corn Store to Rocky Park, has been shared by Pembroke county councillor Jonathan Grimes after receiving concerns from residents about the landslide on the north bank of Castle Pond.

“Given the most recent slippage of land from areas directly above the footpath, including damage/failure of a street light column, we have unfortunately had to place a closure on the effected section of footpath on the grounds of health and safety concerns and increased risk(s) associated with the landslide event.

“Effected areas have been made safe (power isolated to the column), but given the popularity of the footpath and high levels of footfall no other decision could be made other than closure.

“Again, unfortunately, members of the public have removed temporary barriers and appropriate signage and continued to traverse the area of slippage, which in turn has led to an accident occurring with a member of the public falling over the street light column and having to receive medical treatment in A&E.

“Efforts have been made earlier today to provide a more robust set of measures to prevent access to the north bank of the Castle Pond, until further investigations can be commissioned in relation to the areas of slippage and potential solutions toward remediation of the bank.

“We will make every effort to keep you updated with progress.”

Local ward member, and council leader, Cllr Jon Harvey said: “The closure has been made again on the grounds of health and safety and increased risk to members of the public due to the landslip.

“Officers are continuing to work on a solution to remediate following the landslip, although I understand that this is being complicated by land ownership issues.”

Cllr Harvey later added the initial closure had taken place after recent heavy rains and storms, with barrier inplace until a bank adjoining the path is stabilised.

He said discussions had been taking place with nearby landowner Ateb which had had structural engineers looking at the situation.

Cllr Harvey also said the residents of nearby shelted accomodation Croft Court had raised their concerns, with a meeting due to take place with them.

He said that, while the closure was inconvenient for residents, “public safety is all important.”

A spokesperson for Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority said: “At this location the Park Authority is responsible for providing directional signage to enable Coast Path walkers to follow the route of the Coast Path.  Following a landslip, we have provided temporary signage on site to guide Coast Path walkers along an alternative route.”

Pembrokeshire County Council added: “A recent landslip above the footpath has resulted in a damaged streetlight which then required the closure of the affected footpath. Power to the damaged streetlight column has been isolated and the area made safe.

“Despite the closure of the path, some members of the public have removed barriers and signage. Therefore, stronger measures have now been put in place to prevent access to the north bank of the Castle Pond while investigations and remediation options are pursued to address the landslide by the landowner.

“Further updates will be provided as work progresses and timelines are known.”

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.