An expert, clinically-led group has been established to shape the future of planned care in Wales, with a mandate to develop a delivery plan for up to 10 new elective care hubs. The initiative forms a central pillar of the Welsh Government’s First 100 Days Plan and is aimed at tackling long waiting lists while improving access and outcomes for patients.
The hubs are intended to transform the delivery of elective care across NHS Wales by increasing capacity for planned surgery and diagnostics, while reducing disruption caused by emergency pressures. By separating planned procedures from urgent care pathways, the model is expected to cut cancellations and enable faster treatment for patients.
Clinicians to Lead Design and Delivery
The Elective Care Expert Group brings together senior clinical and operational leadership from across NHS Wales, reinforcing the government’s emphasis on frontline expertise in shaping healthcare reform.
The group will be chaired independently by Rhidian Morgan-Jones, a recently retired Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon. Morgan-Jones brings extensive experience from both Welsh and English healthcare systems and currently serves as a trustee of the British Orthopaedic Association (BOA), alongside roles on several national committees.
Supporting the group’s work, Professor Jon Barry, Director Wales of the Royal College of Surgeons, will provide insight and best practice learning from across the UK.
Other key members include:
- Dr Claire R Dunstan, National Clinical Lead for Anaesthetics
- Sophie O’Donovan, Lead Nurse for Anaesthetics, Critical Care and Theatres
- Corrina Casey, Director of Performance and Delivery, NHS Wales Performance, and Improvement
Building on Best Practice
The group’s remit extends beyond domestic innovation. Members will draw on lessons from existing elective care hubs already operating in Wales, as well as established models from across the UK and internationally.
Their recommendations, which are due by the end of the year, will advise on the number, location, and operational model of the hubs, helping to shape a system designed for long-term resilience and efficiency.
Major Investment to Support Reform
The Welsh Government has already committed £145 million towards boosting planned care capacity. The hub model is expected to play a pivotal role in delivering tangible improvements in waiting times and patient outcomes over the course of the current Senedd term.
Cabinet Minister for Health and Care, Mabon ap Gwynfor, highlighted the importance of the initiative:
“Increasing capacity for planned surgery and diagnostics and cutting long waiting times by separating planned care from emergency pressures is a key priority for this new Welsh Government. We have already announced £145m of investment to support these aims.
“This expert group will plan out how many elective care hubs we will need, where they will be based and how they will increase capacity in the system.
“We want planning for these hubs to be led by the people who know best – the surgeons, nurses and anaesthetists working on the front line every day.
“Their expertise will ensure we build a planned care system that is resilient, efficient and works for patients across Wales.”
A Long-Term Strategy for NHS Wales
The development and rollout of up to 10 elective care hubs will take place over the duration of this Senedd term, signalling a long-term strategic shift in how planned care is delivered in Wales.
For NHS leaders and system planners, the programme reflects a broader trend towards ringfenced elective capacity – an approach increasingly seen across the UK as a solution to persistent waiting list pressures exacerbated by the pandemic and ongoing workforce challenges.
Image credit: iStock
