Special Event To Discuss The Future Of Outpatients In Wales

Health Secretary Vaughan Gething has today attended a launch event to discuss how the Welsh Government can improve the way outpatient services in Wales are delivered in the future. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Hosted by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, the event forms part of a series of discussions being held by health boards with patients and clinicians across Wales during November and December. Health boards will be talking to as many people as possible over the coming weeks to gain a clear understanding of the sorts of ways that people would like to access specialist treatment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Vaughan Gething said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Last year there were millions of appointments at outpatient clinics across Wales. This number keeps increasing every year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The current model for outpatients in Wales was developed many years ago and we need to be sure it meets the needs of our patients and clinicians. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We know that on some occasions an outpatient appointment in a hospital may not be the most convenient place for a patient to be seen. It may be difficult for them to park their car; find their way to the right department and that there may be other concerns. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We want to ensure that when attending outpatient appointments people have a positive experience. For that reason, I have asked our health boards to work together with patients and clinicians to develop a better approach that makes it easier for patients to access specialist advice, diagnosis and treatment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“To achieve this we need to design a delivery model that focuses on the patient; is sustainable and cost effective. We need to understand the views of patients and families who have attended an outpatient appointment so that we can work together to improve the outpatient experience. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The information shared by those attending events like this one, and the others taking place across the country, will be used to inform the design of outpatients for the future. We welcome feedback if we’re to improve services that meet the needs of everyone.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​