Better Together: Board to consider future health service consultation
9 September 2026
Powys Teaching Health Board will consider whether to begin one of the most significant public conversations about the future of local NHS services for a generation.
At its meeting on 16 September 2026, the Powys Teaching Health Board will consider whether Better Together proposals for adult physical health, adult mental health, urgent care and some diagnostic services are ready for formal public consultation.
The proposals respond to major challenges facing health services. People are living longer, often with several long-term conditions; demand is rising; and recruiting and retaining the workforce needed to sustain small services across a large rural county is becoming increasingly difficult.
Better Together asks how NHS services should evolve over the next 10 years and beyond so they remain safe, effective and sustainable, while helping more people stay well, remain independent and receive care at home or closer to home.
No decisions have been made about future service changes. The Board is being asked whether the evidence, options and supporting arrangements are ready to be tested through formal public consultation.
All options retain services at all community hospital sites in Powys. All options also include significant steps to improve the community services available in people's homes and, as these improvements are achieved, the need for bed-based care would reduce. The consultation options therefore set out a future vision with community hospital inpatient beds on fewer sites than now.
Options would strengthen urgent community responses and establish Urgent Care Centres, open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week, with a wider range of assessment, treatment and diagnostic services than current Minor Injury Units can provide.
It would also strengthen community mental health, crisis response, NHS 111 Wales Press 2 and sanctuary services, alongside a single centre of excellence for organic and functional mental health inpatient care in the Bronllys / Brecon area.
Dr Carl Cooper, Chair of Powys Teaching Health Board, said:
“The Board is being asked to consider whether these proposals are ready to be examined through formal public consultation. Our responsibility is to consider whether the evidence, options and supporting information are sufficiently developed to progress to this important next step. If consultation is approved, we want people to test the evidence, challenge our thinking, and help inform what happens next.
“The recommendations being considered by the Board on 16 September have been informed by feedback from thousands of patients, residents, NHS staff and partner organisations over that last 2 years.
“This is not currently a decision on the future configuration of services. Such decisions could only be made following full and meaningful consultation.”
Kate Wright, Executive Medical Director, said:
"Harm from prolonged hospital stays have become well evidenced. It is clear that a health system that can provide more care in community settings would deliver better care and outcomes for patients."
“These proposals explore how we can provide safe, high-quality care for future generations, support more people to stay well and independent, and retain inpatient care for those whose needs cannot safely be met at home. They are focused on strengthening community services for patients with physical and Mental Health needs.”
If approved, the proposed consultation would run from 5 October 2026 to 10 January 2027. Consultation feedback, alternative proposals and new evidence would be considered before any final decision is made. The current plan is for a recommendation following consultation to be considered by the Board in spring 2027.
Board papers and supporting documents are available from the Powys Teaching Health Board website: Board Meetings - Powys Teaching Health Board