A new state of the art health and wellbeing campus in Newtown has taken a significant step forward following endorsement from Welsh Government.

 

A Programme Business Case (PBC) had earlier been submitted to Welsh Government by the North Powys Wellbeing (NPWB) Programme highlighting the benefits of bringing together health and wellbeing services onto a single site adjacent to Park Street in Newtown. Endorsement for this business case was announced by First Minister Mark Drakeford MS in the Senedd yesterday (Tuesday March 15th ) who noted the important milestone in the project.

 

The North Powys Wellbeing (NPWB) Programme is a flagship programme of the Powys Regional Partnership Board, comprising Powys County Council, Powys Teaching Health Board, PAVO and other key partners.

 

Hayley Thomas, Powys Teaching Health Board’s Deputy Chief Executive is a joint Senior Responsible Officer for the NPWB Programme: “We’re delighted that the Welsh Government has considered our early ideas for this exciting and innovative new development. Whilst we have been waiting for a decision, we have also made progress in developing the second stage business case – the Strategic Outline Case (SOC) – and these plans are to be considered by the health board later this month. If this is signed off, then this will be submitted to Welsh Government.”

 

Early plans for the Newtown campus include looking at relocating Newtown’s health provision into a Rural Regional Diagnostics and Treatment Centre, along with a Integrated Health and Care Centre  (including social care and third sector provision), a Health and Care Academy, short term supported housing, library and information services as well as shared community space.

 

The provision of a small amount of accommodation for students attending the academy, new recruits to health and care jobs as well as locum health specialists is also being considered. A replacement school for Ysgol Calon y Dderwen is also being developed under Powys County Council’s Transforming Education programme with both programme teams working closely together.

 

Ali Bulman is Powys County Council’s Executive Director for People and Organisation Development, the Director of Social Services and is also a Senior Responsible Officer for the programme. “This is tremendous news and we’re delighted that we’ve had this support from Welsh Government.

 

“However, we are still at an early stage and, subject to our SOC also gaining support, there are still two further business case stages we need to go through. However, if all of the business cases are supported by Welsh Government, we will be aiming to open in late 2026 although the school redevelopment is expected to be ready in the previous autumn.”

 

The campus plan is part of a wider vision to improve access to health and wellbeing services through a new and innovative ‘Integrated Model of Care and Wellbeing in Powys’. The aims of the vision are to ensure people in Powys receive joined up seamless care and support at the right time, in the right place that meets their needs in the home, community, or across Powys.

 

To find out more about the Integrated Model of Care and Wellbeing in Powys and proposals for the Newtown campus visit www.powyswellbeing.wales