Powys patients facing a new model of overnight hospital care from the beginning of December.

Patients in Powys are set to benefit from a new model of overnight care from the beginning of December. 

The temporary changes will help to ensure that more patients are in a hospital environment better suited to their needs, particularly if they are waiting for package of care to enable them to return home. 

Claire Roche, Executive Director of Nursing, Quality, Women and Children’s Health for Powys Teaching Health Board said:  “Currently there are people in hospital who are well enough to go home but are unable to do so straight away. For example, they may be waiting for small changes to their home, or for a carer to help them. 

“Our Ready To Go Home Units in Bronllys and Llanidloes will provide a dedicated and supportive environment to help people stay as active as possible. We have designed these environments so that you can get up and move about as much as possible, and to join in with different activities either alone or in groups. 

“Your family and friends are welcome to come and visit at any time – we don’t have set visiting hours. You are also free to go out with your visitors, into the gardens, or even out for a trip into town.” 

A new leaflet provides helpful information to people staying on our Ready To Go Home Units and their families, and information is also available from a dedicated section of the health board website at pthb.nhs.wales/overnight    

Claire Roche continued: “The number of community hospital beds and their locations remains unchanged across the county. But by giving a clearer focus to wards in Bronllys and Llanidloes as ‘Ready To Go Home’ units we can provide more focused care for people who are ready to go home but are waiting for a package of care in the community. We can help people to remain mobile and active, which is important to reduce the risk of deconditioning in a hospital setting. 

“Similarly, we can ensure a faster recovery for more patients by strengthening the role of wards in Brecon and Newtown for the provision of specialised inpatient rehabilitation. This builds on their existing role as our centres for stroke rehabilitation.” 

From 2 December 2024, PTHB will provide overnight care for adults in four settings: 

• Ready To Go Home Units support people who are well enough to go home but not yet able to do so. These are located in Bronllys and Llanidloes. 

• Reablement Units provide support for people who are ready to leave a District General Hospital but need a bit of extra support before they are ready to go home. These are located in Builth Wells and Knighton. 

• Inpatient Rehabilitation Units provide specialist rehabilitation for patients recovering from a serious illness of injury – for example, following a stroke. These are located in Brecon and Newtown. 

• Community hospital wards focus on patients who require ongoing medical or nursing care in a community hospital setting. 

This is in addition to the county’s mental health units. 

The temporary changes are due to be in place for six months, with a comprehensive programme of learning and evaluation in place. 

Alongside this, the health board will work with communities across Powys to develop a clear route map towards the future of safe and sustainable hospital services for the county. 

Regular updates on this work are due to be shared through meetings in public of the Health Board, and people in Powys can also sign up to receive email updates through the Health Board’s subscriber service. 

Information about overnight care provided by Powys Teaching Health Board is available from the health board website at https://pthb.nhs.wales/overnight and https://biap.gig.cymru/drosnos   

These temporary changes were agreed at a meeting in public of Powys Teaching Health Board  on October 10 following a period of engagement with patients, the public and wider stakeholders this summer . 

To join the Health Board’s subscriber service, just visit the health board website at pthb.nhs.wales and pop your email address in the box at the top of the home page.