The Chief Executive of Hywel Dda has given his thanks to residents in Pembrokeshire for getting involved in the ‘Our Big NHS Change’ consultations.

Over the last twelve weeks the authority has heard from thousands of people about its plans to radically overhaul healthcare services to ensure that they are safe, sustainable, accessible and kind for current and future generations.

Each proposal that the authority has consulted on has been tested by their clinicians and members of the public were asked to provide their feedback in a multitude of different ways, which will be independently analysed and considered before any formal proposal is put before the Health Board later this year.

Hywel Dda’s Chief Executive, Steve Moore, said: “I’d like to thank everyone who has been involved in Our Big NHS Change.

“This has been the biggest and most important public consultation ever undertaken on the future of healthcare services in west Wales and we recognise the strength of feeling and passion our local communities have for our local NHS, so I’m glad that many residents took part in the consultation by completing the questionnaire, talking with us at our public drop-in or stakeholder events, or by providing feedback through a number of other ways throughout the 12 week period.

“The conversation that you have been involved in has been critical in terms of helping to challenge and shape our way of thinking.

“All of the questionnaires and feedback received will now be independently analysed by an external organisation, Opinion Research Services (ORS). We will hold further discussions with our clinicians, staff and stakeholders to consider this feedback to enable our clinicians to put forward their recommendation to the Board in September.

“We appreciate that some people are concerned about potential changes in our local health and care services, and we wish to reassure people that we will continue to provide regular updates so that everyone is informed on latest developments.”