HYWEL Dda University Health Board (UHB) will consider extending and expanding a temporary change to the adult community mental health referral pathway at its next public Board meeting on November 27, 2025.

Since March 2025, adults requiring non-urgent mental health support in Ceredigion have been referred by their GP to the NHS 111 Wales option 2 service instead of the community mental health team.

The Board will be asked to support continuing the temporary arrangement in Ceredigion. During this time, the health board would also like to assess the potential impact on service users and stakeholders across the three counties, should the new referral pathway be extended permanently to also include Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.

The change in Ceredigion aimed to reduce patient waiting times and ease demand on the community team, which has faced ongoing staffing and recruitment pressures.

GPs continue to refer patients with the greatest need to the community team and have access to a professional 111 support line if they are concerned a patient may not call the service as advised, or if the patient is unable to do this themselves.

Since its introduction in Ceredigion, the pathway has delivered some positive benefits, including:

  • Reduced waiting times for patients
  • Improved responsiveness of services
  • Better integration between primary care and mental health teams

Andrew Carruthers, Chief Operating Officer at Hywel Dda UHB, said: “We want to ensure that our mental health services are accessible, timely, and sustainable. While the temporary change was introduced in response to staffing pressures, feedback so far has been mostly positive.

“People are receiving expert advice and support more quickly, and those with complex mental health needs are also seen sooner by our specialist teams.

“For these reasons, we are seeking approval from the Board to carry out a further period of engagement to hear from more people across our communities before making any long-term decisions to extend this pathway for patients across our health board area.”

If approved, a nine-week engagement period will begin in early December, giving service users, carers, GPs, and stakeholders the opportunity to share their views.

For more information, the Board paper is available to read here https://hduhb.nhs.wales/about-us/your-health-board/board-meetings-2025/board-agenda-and-papers-27-november-2025/ and the Board meeting will be broadcast live from 9.30am on Thursday 27 November on www.youtube.com/hywelddahealthboard1