Powys Teaching Health Board has expressed its gratitude to colleagues from across the border in England for conducting a drop-in engagement session last week in Newtown.

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SATH) took the initiative to visit Ladywell House, providing Mid Wales residents with a unique opportunity to discuss in person the trust's plans for the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and the Princess Royal Hospital.

The focus of the engagement was SATH's Hospital Transformation Programme (HTP), which aims to specialize the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in emergency care and the Princess Royal Hospital in planned care.

Stephen Powell, Director of Performance and Commissioning at Powys Teaching Health Board, expressed his appreciation for the SATH team, stating"I'd like to thank the SATH team for giving our residents an opportunity to talk about their Hospital Transformation Programme plans."

Mr. Powell also extended his gratitude to the attendees of the drop-in session, highlighting the importance of community involvement in discussions about healthcare plans. He stated, "I hope that they found their visit useful," and assured the community that further face-to-face engagement sessions about SATH's plans in north Powys are in the pipeline, with collaboration between Powys Teaching Health Board and SATH to spread the word about dates and locations.

The North Powys Wellbeing Programme, a collaboration between the health board and Powys County Council, is actively exploring ways to deliver services in partnership with SATH in the north of the county. This partnership reflects a commitment to ensuring that healthcare services are accessible and tailored to the needs of the local community.

Rachel Webster, SATH's HTP Nursing, Midwifery, and Allied Health Professionals (AHP) Lead, conveyed appreciation on behalf of her colleagues, stating, "The Hospitals Transformation Programme will improve care for all communities we serve, which includes residents of Powys." She emphasized SATH's dedication to ongoing engagement, both in person and online, to allow residents to contribute their perspectives as plans progress.

SATH is offering various opportunities for public participation in their engagement program on the HTP, including online focus groups. Details about these opportunities can be found on the SATH website https://www.sath.nhs.uk/about-us/get-involved/public-participation-2/get-involved-with-us-2/htp-focus-groups/.

The next round of online focus groups is scheduled for March, but presentations and Q&A sessions from previous events can be accessed via the provided link.

Additionally, SATH will be hosting an 'About Health' online health event focusing on HTP on January 30th, from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm, welcoming all interested individuals to attend and participate.