THE Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (UHB) believes it needs to change the way a number of its clinical services are delivered. 

Like other regions around the UK, the Health Board faces a number of challenges, including meeting the needs of a growing and ageing population, staff shortages and outdated hospital facilities.

Cardiff and Vale UHB provides healthcare services and specialist services to people in Cardiff and the Vale, South Wales, the whole of Wales and the wider UK. 

The Health Board is also a major teaching and research organisation. As one of the largest and most complex healthcare systems in the UK, it faces unique challenges in the way it develops its services, staff and ambitions for the future.

Len Richards, CEO of Cardiff and Vale UHB, said “Our vision as a Health Board is simple; a person’s chance of leading a healthy life should be the same no matter who they are or where they live.

"This is a key part of our 10-year Shaping Our Future Wellbeing strategy. Building on this, we would like to make a number of transformations to the way people access our clinical services, with a focus on providing more care closer to home wherever possible.

"Our Shaping Our Future Clinical Services programme aims to inform our communities of our thinking and seek feedback to inform our direction of travel.”

As part of the Shaping Our Future Clinical Services programme, the Health Board is proposing a number of changes to the way people access clinical services, including:

  • Bringing care closer to its communities and continuing to develop Health and Wellbeing Centres and Wellbeing Hubs - as well as enhancing its model for care at home.

The Health Board would like to develop Health and Wellbeing Centres in each of its three localities at Cardiff Royal Infirmary, Barry and North Cardiff.

These will provide the infrastructure to support services that cannot be delivered through Wellbeing Hubs due to dependence on equipment, facilities or critical mass.

Cardiff and Vale UHB would also like to establish Wellbeing Hubs in each of its nine Primary Care Clusters, delivering services for GPs, community midwifery, for children, primary mental health, community and independent living.

Other proposed changes include more care happening at home or closer to home in community settings.

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  • Developing its two major acute hospital sites, University Hospital of Wales and University Hospital Llandough, as centres of excellence – each with a clearly defined role.

University Hospital of Wales (UHW) could be enhanced as a centre for emergency and specialised care, focused on research and innovation, providing care for the sickest patients who have complex, specialist needs or require emergency care.

The Health Board envisages University Hospital Llandough (UHL) specialising in care for ill but stable patients who are not dependent on critical care during their stay.

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Routine and planned operations would take place at this site, as well as rehabilitation care and inpatient mental health services. State-of-the-art facilities would continue to be developed at UHL and a renewed UHW established.

The proposed transformations to clinical services would have a number of benefits to both staff and the population. These could include:

  •  High-quality, safe and sustainable care for the future with improved outcomes
  •  Accessible care provided closer to home wherever possible
  •  Enhanced specialist services
  •  State-of-the-art facilities in modern buildings
  •  Streamlined services with shorter stays in hospital.

From 1st March to 19th April 2021, Cardiff and Vale UHB is inviting members of the public to learn more about the proposed transformations and provide feedback.

In partnership with the South Glamorgan Community Health Council (CHC), the Health Board will also be running a series of open public engagement events. More information can be found via the Shaping Our Future Clinical Services engagement hub.