Bevan Commission, Author at Bevan Commission

From Isolation to Inspiration: How Virtual Reality is Transforming Care in Wales.

Bevan Commission — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 10:01:28 +0000

As part of the Bevan Exemplar programme, Sarah Beauclerk, Director at Vere Experiences CIC, explored how virtual reality (VR) could support wellbeing, reduce isolation and improve patient outcomes and experience. Working in collaboration with Hywel Dda University Health Board (HDUHB), Pembrokeshire County Council and others, her projects demonstrated the impact VR can have on patients, families and staff. In this blog, Sarah reflects on the impact, challenges, lessons learned and future potential.

Introducing the projects

The Connecting Realities project was designed to explore how digital and immersive technology could benefit people at risk of isolation. From the outset, VR showed consistent benefits, so this became the core focus.

The VR Inclusive Mental Health Interventions (VRIMHI) project was developed with the Pembrokeshire Older Adult Community Mental Health Team to support older people experiencing low mood. It aimed to lift mood, improve quality of life, and reduce crisis episodes and relapses.

The projects were unusual in being two connected initiatives that were simultaneously Bevan Exemplars, co-led by Sarah through her Community Interest Company. Sarah worked with Michelle Copeman (then Integrated Locality Project Manager, HDUHB) on Connecting Realities, and with Katherine Lewis (Lead for the Pembrokeshire Older Adult Community Mental Health Team) on VRIMHI.

The initial challenge was building a tech infrastructure, combining in-house tools with platforms like ArborXR and Headjack, for customised interfaces, content delivery, and remote headset management. Once resolved, the system proved robust and adaptable. Post-COVID health and safety restrictions added complexity; at one care home, we were the first external visitors.

For VRIMHI, home visits were initially planned, but workforce pressures and unforeseen delays led the team to start with a group event for Mental Health Awareness Week. This proved so effective that it evolved into fortnightly group sessions, still running today. Home visits are offered to those unable to attend.

The Power of the Bevan Exemplar Programme

Being a Bevan Exemplar gave them credibility and opened doors at the health board and county council levels. The amazing mentors, Mark Briggs (Cardiff and Vale University Health Board) and Mark Griffiths (Public Health Wales), offered invaluable support throughout the projects. Sarah is now working closely with Mark Griffiths and the team on the CarerVR project.

Shifting Realities: The Impact So Far

The VRIMHI project continues three years on, a testament to its ongoing success. As one patient said, “If it wasn’t working, it wouldn’t be happening.” The intervention has delivered meaningful benefits for patients, including reductions in relapse and crisis episodes, with one participant describing it as her “safe space.” Evaluation data shows an average in-session mood improvement of nearly 3 points on a 10-point wellbeing rating scale, and a broader trend of sustained improvement in baseline mood. As patients progress and no longer require intensive support, the demand for continued, lighter-touch support has become clear. They are now developing ‘VR Community Mental Health Support Sessions’ in response.

For Connecting Realities, feedback forms co-created with care homes and residents reveal valuable insights. Some care homes report that the visits improved the ambience of the living room, even beyond sessions. Supporters observed mood improvement in 80% of participants. Regular visits helped remove barriers, as experiences become familiar and accessible. Only last week, a VR Supporter, Hardy, reported a ‘miraculous reaction’ when a usually withdrawn resident joined in singing Wonderful World.

The team also work with clinical wards, community care teams, and palliative care to facilitate and support sessions through the coordination of nearly 50 headsets. One community palliative care patient, a lifelong Liverpool FC fan, toured Anfield in VR shortly before passing away – a powerful experience for her and her carer.

In addition, a BMJ Palliative Care blog highlighted how VR benefited people in different, meaningful ways. Staff reported higher job satisfaction and strengthened relationships with patients and residents.

Creative Catalyst funding supported six months of content creation, and the team is participating in a Media Cymru-funded research project with Red Seam Productions and Welsh National Opera – the groups are among the first to trial potential outcomes.

The team has also showcased the projects at events like MediWales and launched CarerVR, at an event introduced by Alison Jones, Public Health Wales. It was later featured in Life Sciences Hub Wales Innovation News, receiving an overwhelmingly positive response.

Spreading the Story: Where It’s Going Next?

VRIMHI is being spread across Hywel Dda University Health Board. Its success is driven by the enthusiasm, capability and tenacity of the Pembrokeshire Older Adult Community Mental Health Team, who deliver sessions with care and originality. They are now mentoring teams in other counties. Sustainability depends on committed local leadership. Mike, who runs the sessions, has been an inspiration.

For Connecting Realities, the team has identified unpaid carers as among the most isolated. In response, and in collaboration with Carer’s Support Pembrokeshire and the Technology Enabled Care Team at Pembrokeshire County Council, the team developed a referral system to loan headsets for home use. Health and care professionals can refer carers to the Technology Enabled Care Team to receive tailored content and support. One core benefit observed is improved sleep, which positively impacts carers’ overall health.

Recognising the need for more practical support, Sarah developed CarerVR with support from Public Health Wales and in collaboration with Pembrokeshire’s OT (particularly OT-innovator Sian Jenkins) and Manual Handling Teams, and Juice Immersive. Their EmbodyCam™ technology allows carers to learn from first-person VR experiences, helping carers build confidence and reduce injury risk. It is now being rolled out in the community, with interest from care homes and plans to pilot VR booths in GP surgeries.

Sarah and her team are working with partners to support the sustainable and seamless integration of VR into clinical and community teams. While progress has been steady, additional resources would help sustain momentum, enabling content creation, tech management, delivery coordination and long-term planning. Evaluation remains a key focus, and the team are working with partners to explore a structured evaluation project to formalise outcomes.

Final Thoughts

Far from being impersonal, virtual reality has opened doors to real human connection, bringing people together, sparking collaboration between teams who rarely meet, and building meaningful relationships. Whilst the vehicle is virtual, the impact is very real.

These projects demonstrate the kind of person-centred, forward-thinking innovation the Bevan Exemplar programme champions. From improving mood and connection for older adults to equipping unpaid carers with practical tools, the projects show how digital solutions can transform lives. Sarah’s advice to future innovators is simple: keep your reason for establishing solutions at the forefront, and take it step by step. By keeping hold of your inspiration, you can overcome challenges and create meaningful change.

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Wales Must Back Innovation and Its Workforce to Lead the Next Era of Health Reform

Bevan Commission — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 12:03:37 +0000

Mr. Alan Treharne, Consultant Gynaecologist, Hywel Dda University Health Board and Bevan Fellow

As a clinician who was born and works in Wales, improving standards in our health service is not just professional, it is deeply personal. As a women’s health specialist, I naturally interpret national conversations in the context of my field, but the recent interview with Professor Donald Berwick on BBC One Politics Wales resonated far beyond any one speciality. His reflections are relevant across the entire spectrum of medicine: workforce wellbeing, innovation, and cultural change are challenges—and opportunities—that unite us all. Wales is well-positioned and has immense potential to lead as an example.

Wales stands at a critical crossroads in the future of health and care. The pressures facing the system—staff shortages, growing demand, financial difficulties and the aftermath of a global pandemic—are well documented. But according to Professor Donald Berwick, one of the world’s leading authorities on healthcare improvement, the real opportunity lies not in describing the problems, but in taking bold, values-led action to address them.

In a wide-ranging interview on BBC One Politics Wales with Nick Servini, Professor Donald Berwick delivered a clear and timely message: Wales has the tools, the ambition, and the values to become a global prototype for excellent healthcare, but only if it fully commits to culture change, learning, and innovation, underpinned by a long-term vision.

Berwick, a former adviser to President Obama and the founding president of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, is no stranger to health system reform. He has worked with governments and health leaders around the world. Yet in Wales, he sees something unique: an NHS still committed to the founding principles of equity, universality, and care based on need, not ability to pay. Those principles, he argues, create a foundation on which world-class care can be built.

Workforce Support Is the Defining Challenge

But he was also frank about the risks facing the Welsh NHS. “There’s not enough support, not enough energy,” he said, identifying workforce wellbeing as one of the most immediate and significant challenges to the system’s resilience. The stress and exhaustion being felt by staff cannot be ignored or managed away. Instead, the workforce must be supported, encouraged, and—crucially—developed.

This means more than just recruitment or retention strategies. Berwick emphasised the need for meaningful investment in upskilling, professional development, and creating opportunities for clinical staff to innovate and lead change. In his view, supporting the workforce is not a luxury; it is a strategic necessity.

When staff feel valued, listened to, and empowered to improve care, performance follows. When they are subject to pressure, blame, and a lack of investment, systems stagnate.

Culture Change Over Command and Control

Berwick’s position is clear: improvement cannot be driven by fear or command. “Name and shame do not work,” he said. Drive improvement with a carrot, not a stick. Instead of top-down control, he calls for a shift to positive accountability, where health boards and clinicians are supported to learn from each other, to trial new ideas, and to share what works. The kind of “parochialism” that limits collaboration across regions must be challenged. “Variation” in quality or access across Wales is not inevitable, but we can learn from negative variation and thrive on the positive. But addressing it requires a cultural shift, not simply new metrics or performance targets. Nobody likes being talked down to, but everyone loves to be part of the bigger picture. We need to win hearts and minds; not feel we can’t change the status quo.

This is where Professor Berwick believes Wales has a unique opportunity. The scale of the country, its NHS and its ethos of collaboration make it the ideal setting to model the kind of joined-up, values-driven innovation that other nations aspire to.

Innovation Must Be Embedded, Not Occasional

Central to delivering this kind of transformation is the Bevan Commission, Wales’ leading independent health and care think tank. Berwick praised the Commission’s work in enabling and supporting frontline innovation through programmes like the Spread and Scale initiative, which helps teams turn successful local projects into scalable national solutions. We need to embrace innovation and new ways of doing things, looking not to reinvent the wheel but get on the cart.

He highlighted the importance of reducing “silly rules” and unnecessary bureaucracy that get in the way of improvement. But he also stressed that real change will only come if health boards are willing to learn from each other—and adopt models that are already proving effective.

Community Gynaecology as a Case in Point

One such model is the Enhanced Community Gynaecology Service project, developed in West Wales and now recognised as one of the Bevan Commission’s Adopt, Spread & Embed projects selected for national scaling. This initiative, designed to bring specialist gynaecology care into community settings, was selected for its originality, capacity to release secondary care resources, and its alignment with long-term system goals.

It reflects the wider Welsh Government commitment to Women’s Health Hubs, designed to offer joined-up, accessible care for women across the life course, particularly for those with complex or multiple needs. In doing so, it demonstrates the kind of innovation Berwick advocates: clinically led, patient-focused, and integrated.

Tipping point

Wales has a chance to change and be a leading example for healthcare systems across the world. It’s in our gift, all of us working in Wales, to make this happen, and we need to seize the moment and shine.

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Wales Faces ‘Economic Crisis Driven by Demographic Time Bomb and Decline in Health’

Bevan Commission — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 15:33:48 +0000

A new best practice guide from CBI Wales, Healthy Working Wales (Public Health Wales) and the Bevan Commission calls for action from employers, warning that a shrinking workforce and declining health will hit productivity, recruitment, and resilience across the country.

Welsh businesses are being urged to confront a looming economic crisis driven by a “demographic time bomb” and a sharp decline in the nation’s workforce health.

The ‘Employee Health and Wellbeing’ Best Practice Guide, published in partnership by the Bevan Commission, CBI Wales, and Healthy Working Wales, lays out the scale of the challenge. It warns that by 2045, the ratio of working-age people to those over 65 will plummet from 3:1 to just 2:1.[1]

This demographic shift is compounded by projections of soaring disease rates, including a 70% rise in dementia[2] and a 33% increase in major illness[3] over the next two decades.

The leaders behind the guide say this is not a future problem, but an urgent issue impacting businesses today, with sickness absences predicted to cost the Welsh economy £1.4 billion annually.[4]

The guide argues that while life expectancy is increasing, the number of years people live in good health is falling, creating a perfect storm of greater demands on a smaller, less healthy workforce.

Dr. Helen Howson, Director of the Bevan Commission, highlighted the important role employers must play in a sustainable future for both the economy and public services.

“The health of our people and the health of our economy are intrinsically linked,” Howson said. “For too long, we have seen health as something the NHS fixes when it goes wrong. We must shift to a model of prevention and shared responsibility, and the workplace is the front line for that change.

“By taking shared action, employers can not only improve the lives of their staff but also ease the immense pressure on our public services. This is about creating a virtuous circle for a healthier, stronger Wales.”

The guide moves beyond warnings to provide a practical framework for businesses of all sizes. It includes tips on embedding wellbeing into corporate strategy, training managers to handle sensitive conversations, and creating healthy work environments.

The guide concludes with a clear message: supporting employee wellbeing isn’t just good for people, it is essential for business survival and the future prosperity of Wales.

[1] Welsh Government, ‘National population projections: 2022‑based’ (GOV.WALES, 28 January 2025) https://www.gov.wales/national-population-projections-2022-based-html accessed 16 July 2025.

[2] Rebekah James, ‘Planning ahead: dementia services in Wales’ (Senedd Research, 24 May 2023) https://research.senedd.wales/research-articles/planning-ahead-dementia-services-in-wales/ accessed 16 July 2025.

[3] Technical Advisory Cell, Estimated burden of disease in 2040 (Welsh Government, 22 July 2024) https://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2024-07/estimated-burden-of-disease-in-2040.pdf accessed 16 July 2025.

[4] Modelled on an estimated 11.6 million working days lost in Wales in 2022 (ONS) and applying CIPD-derived cost estimates (a direct employer cost ~ £56/ day and wider economic cost of ~£120 per day.

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The Economic Cost of Poor Health in Wales

Bevan Commission — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 09:40:08 +0000

Wales is at a crossroads. The decisions we take today will determine whether our country merely survives or truly thrives in the face of profound demographic, social, and economic change.

The Bevan Commission, as Wales’ leading health and care think tank, has been examining the future sustainability of our nation. What we have found is sobering. The challenge is no longer just about improving our health services. It is about addressing the health and wellbeing of the Welsh population, how we live, work, and age through the next decade and beyond.

By 2045, the Welsh population will be older, sicker, and facing rising levels of chronic disease. The number of people aged 90 and over will nearly double.[1] Dementia cases are expected to rise by 70%.[2] Chronic conditions such as diabetes, cancer, and mental health disorders will place even greater strain on services already under pressure. We are facing a fundamental demographic shift. By 2045, there will be just two working-age adults for every person aged 65 or over, compared to three today.[3] That change will grow seven times faster than the under-65 population.

This will have far-reaching consequences. With fewer young people entering the workforce and more people needing support later in life, we are heading towards a situation of “fewer hands; greater demands.” The most critical gaps are likely to appear in social care, where projections suggest a need for more than 40,000 additional staff and 20,000 more care home beds.[4][5] Our tax base will come under pressure. Public services will be stretched. More people will be working later in life, often with complex health needs of their own. By some estimates, workforce sickness absences could rise by as much as 27.5%.[6] This is on top of current sickness absence rates in Wales of 2.3% – 7.2 million days lost through sickness absence per year.[7]

And yet, while the outlook may appear stark, Wales is not without hope. We have a clear opportunity and indeed, a responsibility to act now.

The key lies in prevention, not just treatment. We must move from a sickness model to one rooted in wellbeing. Keeping people healthier for longer will be important, and the workplace is one of our most powerful settings to make that happen.

We are not talking about costly gym memberships or large-scale programmes. Small, meaningful changes, like walking instead of taking the lift, or encouraging team walking groups, can build core strength, combat sedentary lifestyles, improve productivity, employee retention, talent attraction, and innovation. Employers can play a vital role by supporting healthy behaviours, offering incentives for daily activity, and rewarding personal wellbeing achievements. Initiatives such as the Education for Patients Programme (EPP), led by volunteers, are also helping people to manage long-term conditions with greater confidence and autonomy.

Raising awareness about the signs of cancers and other major conditions, expanding access to simple health checks (such as blood pressure monitoring), and ensuring that people can get the right support at the right time are critical steps towards a healthier and more productive Wales.

But physical health is just one part of the picture. We must also acknowledge the growing pressure on people’s emotional and mental wellbeing, whether it is caused by caring responsibilities, financial hardship, work or life’s other stresses. Creating supportive, compassionate working environments will be vital, alongside flexible policies that reflect the complex lives people lead, including support for unpaid carers.

This is not just the role of the NHS. All of us, government, employers, communities and individuals, have a part to play in shaping a healthier, more sustainable Wales. We must build a culture that values work-life balance, that supports people to care for themselves and one another, and that sees wellbeing not as an added benefit but as a foundation for our future.

Wales can be fit for the future, but only if we act now. The path ahead will not be easy, but it is navigable. By investing in prevention, embracing innovation, and supporting people where they live, work and play, we can help transform the challenge of an ageing population into an opportunity for a healthier, more resilient nation. A business that leads supportive, flexible, and healthy working environments will not only have a more resilient workforce but will also become an employer of choice in an increasingly tight labour market.

Let us build a Wales not defined by illness but strengthened by wellbeing.

[1] Welsh Government, ‘National population projections: 2022‑based’ (StatsWales, 28 January 2025) https://statswales.gov.wales/Catalogue/Population-and-Migration/Population/Projections/National/2022-based accessed 16 July 2025.

[3] Welsh Government, ‘National population projections: 2022‑based’ (StatsWales, 28 January 2025) https://statswales.gov.wales/Catalogue/Population-and-Migration/Population/Projections/National/2022-based accessed 16 July 2025.

[4] WeCare Wales, WeCare Wales Report (WeCare Wales, December 2022) https://wecare.wales/assets/content/WeCare-Wales-update-report-Dec-22-ENG.pdf accessed 16 July 2025.

[5] Care Home Professional, Care Home Professional, 100th Issue (Care Home Professional, February 2024) https://tatencare.co.uk/category/care-home-professional/ accessed 16 July 2025.

[6] Modelled using data from: Office for National Statistics, Sickness absence in the UK labour market: 2024 (ONS, 2 April 2024) https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/articles/sicknessabsenceinthelabourmarket/2024 and Welsh Government, ‘National population projections: 2022-based’ (StatsWales, 28 January 2025) https://statswales.gov.wales/Catalogue/Population-and-Migration/Population/Projections/National/2022-based both accessed 16 July 2025.

[7] Office for National Statistics, ‘Sickness absence in the UK labour market’ (ONS, 4 June 2025) https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/datasets/sicknessabsenceinthelabourmarket accessed 16 July 2025.

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Bevan Commission launches national programme to Adopt, Spread and Embed healthcare innovations across Wales

Bevan Commission — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 08:55:18 +0000

The Bevan Commission, supported by the Welsh Government, today (02 July) announced the launch of its second “Adopt, Spread & Embed” programme. Building on the success of the initial programme trialled in 2020, the initiative is designed to take proven, locally developed healthcare innovations and systematically roll them out across NHS Wales. This programme aims to transform planned care services, significantly reduce waiting lists, enhance patient outcomes, and deliver better value throughout Wales.

For the past two years, the Bevan Commission has supported several projects within individual Health Boards. Following rigorous scrutiny and assessment, seven Bevan Exemplar projects have been selected for their demonstrable success in improving care quality, efficiency, and patient experience, making them prime candidates for wider adoption.

These initiatives cover a diverse range of clinical needs, from establishing specialised Perioperative Care of Older People Undergoing Surgery (POPS) services, improving radiology pathway navigation to speed up diagnostics, to enhanced community-based gynaecology services that bring care closer to home. Each project has already delivered tangible benefits, such as optimised diagnostic timelines, reduced waiting lists, significant cost savings, and improved capacity within the health service.

The “Adopt, Spread and Embed” programme is a direct and practical response to the Welsh Government’s Innovation strategy for Wales, launched in February 2023, which calls for the translation of innovative ideas into impactful, system-wide improvements. This initiative embodies that vision by fostering a culture where successful local solutions become standard practice across Wales.

Importantly, the programme aligns with and will actively contribute to the five key “change” priorities for the health service, as outlined by the First Minister, Eluned Morgan, and reiterated in the vision for the future of NHS Wales by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Jeremy Miles (as per his NHS Confederation speech on 8 April 2025).

The “Adopt, Spread and Embed” programme will support these priorities by:

Focusing more on prevention: Innovative services like the Welsh Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) model are designed to identify and treat patients at risk of osteoporotic fractures, preventing future incidents and reducing long-term health burdens.
Shifting to primary and community services: The Enhanced Community Gynaecology Service in Hywel Dda University Health Board exemplifies this, moving diagnostics and treatment out of acute hospitals and into local settings, making care more accessible.
Developing a digital NHS: The Perioperative Care of Older People Undergoing Surgery Service in Elective General Surgery (POPS) incorporates a digital tool to help screen patients waiting for general elective surgery for frailty, supporting the drive for a more digitally enabled health service.
Shifting to regional working: The core principle of “Adopt, Spread and Embed” is to share best practice and standardise effective models across Health Board boundaries, promoting greater regional collaboration and consistency of care.
Improving leadership and developing the NHS workforce: The programme will improve staff in new methodologies, encourage the sharing of expertise, and develop leadership in innovation adoption, thereby building a more resilient and adaptable NHS workforce.

Helen Howson, Director of the Bevan Commission, said: “For too long, brilliant innovations developed locally have remained isolated pockets of excellence. Our ‘Adopt, Spread and Embed’ programme is about changing that by systematically taking what works best and making it available to everyone in Wales. We have seen the profound positive impact these projects have on patients, staff, and NHS resources. Now, it is time to ensure these benefits are felt right across the country. This is about delivering more prudent, value-based healthcare that is both sustainable and equitable.”

The Bevan Commission will now work closely with all Health Boards in Wales and the NHS Planned Care team to support the implementation of these Exemplar projects. Drawing on international adoption science, the programme will provide a robust methodology and framework to help embed these innovations effectively, fostering a sustainable culture of improvement that benefits all patients and staff across Wales.

The seven Exemplar innovations selected for the Adopt, Spread and Embed programme are:

Perioperative Care of Older People Undergoing Surgery (POPS) Service in Elective General Surgery – Cardiff and Vale and Swansea Bay University Health Boards
Radiology Pathway Navigation – Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
Meeting Endoscopy Targets, Improving Efficiency and Reducing Waits for Endoscopy – Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
Building Capacity and Reducing Waits in Gastroenterology Planned Care – Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
Carpal Tunnel Surgery – Introducing the Lean, Green, More Efficient Pathway – Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
Enhanced Community Gynaecology Service – Hywel Dda University Health Board
Welsh Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) Model – Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

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Bevan Commission to host Spring Summit as Wales faces “turning point” for health and care

Bevan Commission — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 13:53:52 +0000

As Wales stands at a critical juncture for the future of its health and care system, the Bevan Commission will host the Sir Mansel Aylward Spring Summit on Wednesday, March 26th, 2025, to galvanise collective action towards a more unified, sustainable, and equitable approach. The Summit seeks to recapture the pioneering spirit of Aneurin Bevan who birthed the NHS here in Wales.

The Summit, aptly themed “The Turning Point: Uniting for the Future of Health and Care in Wales,” promises to be more than just a talking shop. The Bevan Commission aims to create a catalyst for real change to be prepared for a decade on. The Summit will engage the support of leaders, professionals, and changemakers from across health, social care, government, industry, academia, and the third sector.

“We are at a point where incremental changes simply won’t cut it,” says Dr Helen Howson, Director of the Bevan Commission. “The challenges facing our health and care system are immense, and we need a shared vision and a commitment to collaborative action now if we are going to build a system fit for future generations.”

The Summit will build upon previous work of the Bevan Commission, including insights from “The Tipping Point: Where Next for Health and Care?” Conference held in 2023. Discussions will focus on addressing key issues:

An Ageing Population– with one in four people in Wales over 65 come 2045, and the number of 90-plus-year-olds set to nearly double, finding ways to provide sustainable health and social care for our older citizens will be critical.
Chronic and Complex Disease– addressing the fact that, in twenty years, one in five of us will be living with chronic conditions, and that 65% of those over 65 will likely be living with multiple complex disorders.
Waiting Lists– exploring innovative approaches to tackle record-high and stubborn backlogs in our health and care systems.
Health Inequalities– confronting the widening gap in health outcomes between the most and least deprived areas.

The summit boasts an impressive lineup of speakers who will share their insights and expertise:

Jeremy Miles, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, will provide a political perspective on the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Professor Don Berwick KBE, a leading international expert on healthcare improvement, will offer an international challenge (via live feed) pushing Wales to think differently about the future.

Bevan Commissioners including Nygaire Bevan, Professors Kamila Hawthorne, George Crooks and Dame Sue Bailey, will explore innovative models of care and opportunities for integration, drawing upon experiences from other areas.

Leaders from different sectors of society including Hugh Russell, CEO of Children in Wales, Professor Kelechi Nnoaham, Head of Health Programmes Development at Shell International, Rhian Bowen-Davies, Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, and Derek Walker, Future Generations Commissioner who will give their perspectives on challenges and opportunities.

Leaders from our key organisations including Jonathan Morgan, Chair of NHS Confederation and Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, Cllr Charlie McCoubrey, Leader of Conwy CBC and WLGA Social Care Lead, Dr Lindsay Cordery Bruce, CEO of Welsh Local Government Association, Russell Greenslade, Wales Director, CBI and Professor Medwin Hughes, Chair of Llais Cymru (People’s Voice).

Interactive sessions will encourage participants to challenge the status quo, discuss and identify key priorities for transformation, and commit to concrete actions. The Summit will also focus on “Turning vision into action – identifying how this transformation will be achieved by working together with all partners.”

The Bevan Commission expects the Summit will lay the foundations upon which a “Wales-wide consensus for future health and care’’ can be built. A collaborative approach, a clear set of leadership commitments and shared accountability will be identified to help drive meaningful change.

“This is a call to all of us, individually and collectively, across sectors, to join forces,” Dr. Helen Howson added. “We need to pledge our collective energy and talents to make Wales a healthier, stronger, and more resourceful nation, showing others the way once again, where health and care stand as pillars of our shared success.”

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Bevan Commission announces new cohort of Bevan Fellows to drive health and care innovation in Wales

Bevan Commission — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 11:16:24 +0000

The Bevan Commission on Wednesday (22 January) announced the selection of 24 health and care professionals for its Bevan Fellows programme. These Bevan Fellows, representing a diverse range of specialties and health boards across Wales, will embark on a 24-month journey to lead, research, and implement innovative projects to improve health and well-being outcomes for the people of Wales.

The Bevan Fellows programme is a flagship initiative of the Bevan Commission, an independent, authoritative think tank that provides expert advice on health and care to the Welsh Government and leaders in Wales, the UK, and globally. The programme aims to develop a new generation of healthcare leaders equipped to address the complex challenges facing the NHS and drive transformational change within their organisations, communities and across Wales as a whole.

“We are thrilled to welcome this exceptional group of individuals to the Bevan Fellows family,” said Dr Helen Howson, Director of the Bevan Commission. “Their passion, expertise, and commitment to innovation are truly inspiring. We are confident that they will make a significant contribution to improving health and care in Wales.”

The Bevan Fellows’ projects span a wide range of areas, including improving patient care, embracing technology, addressing health inequalities, strengthening the workforce, and promoting collaboration across the healthcare system. From evaluating the effectiveness of a Fracture Liaison Service to developing new referral pathways for ADHD assessments and exploring the use of user-centred design in digital transformation, these projects represent a bold and forward-thinking approach to the transformation of health and care.

The Bevan Fellows programme is built on three core pillars- research, leadership, and teaching & education. Bevan Fellows receive comprehensive mentoring and support throughout their journey, including access to learning events, research and publishing advice, peer support, and opportunities to showcase their work.

“The Bevan Fellows programme is more than just a fellowship, it’s a community of practice,” added Dr Helen Howson. “We foster a culture of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and mutual support among our Bevan Fellows, and we encourage them to support each other as well as the wider healthcare community in Wales. We believe that by working together, we can create a more sustainable, equitable, and effective health and care system for all.”

The 2025 Bevan Fellows are:

Dr Jonny Currie, GP Partner, Public Health Consultant and Co-Director 19 Hills CIC (Aneurin Bevan University Health Board)
Dr Inder Singh, Consultant at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
Christopher Goodwin, Senior QC Analyst at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
Kerry Brown, Senior Diagnostic Radiographer- Informatics Lead at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
Marie Latham-Jones, Technology Transfer Manager at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
Alan Treharne, Consultant Gynaecologist at Hywel Dda University Health Board
Dr Karen Brown, Clinical Lead for Acute Medicine at Hywel Dda University Health Board
Dr Paul Underwood, Consultant Physician at Hywel Dda University Health Board
Dr Daniel Jones, Specialty Registrar in Public Health Medicine at Public Health Wales
Monika Swiatek, Principal Service Designer at Public Health Wales
Amy Goddard, Trainee Clinical Associate in Applied Psychology at Powys Teaching Health Board
Timothy Smith, Business Manager at Powys Teaching Health Board
Brigitte Baxter, ST7 at Swansea Bay University Health Board
David Florentin, Service Improvement Data lead at Swansea Bay University Health Board
Elizabeth Davies, Clinical Director for Frailty Services at Swansea Bay University Health Board
Dr Stuart Kyle, GP Partner at Llansamlet Surgery (Swansea Bay University Health Board
Dr Julia Terry, Associate Professor at Swansea University
Hannah Russon, Head of the Velindre Oncology Academy at Velindre University NHS Trust
Beth Underwood, Health Housing Innovation Programme Manager at Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
Claire Turbutt, Principal Public Health Practitioner at Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
Dee Lowry, Head of Value-Based Healthcare at Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
Dr Neil Hawkes, Consultant Gastroenterologist and Clinical Lead of the National Diagnostics Programme at Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
Paul Gimson, Assistant Director of Improvement Culture Capability and Delivery at Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
Dr Laura Mackenzie, General practitioner, 3D Programme Director, GP Appraiser at Health Education and Improvement Wales

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Bevan Commission report highlights innovative solutions to help tackle Wales’ healthcare waiting time crisis

Bevan Commission — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 10:54:45 +0000

A new report from the Bevan Commission, Wales’ leading independent health and care think tank, showcases practical, evidence-based solutions that are already making a difference in waiting times in some parts of Wales. It encourages their wider adoption across Wales to help address the scale of the nation’s healthcare waiting time crisis.

The report, titled “Why Wait? Building on Proven Initiatives to Reduce Waits in Wales,” details how waiting lists have increased by 73 per cent when compared to pre-pandemic levels, with over 800,000 patient pathways currently open. Projections indicate that this number could exceed 830,000 by May 2026, with nearly half of those waiting longer than 26 weeks for treatment.

“These figures are deeply troubling,” says Dr. Helen Howson, Director of the Bevan Commission. “They represent a crisis that is impacting the health and well-being of our communities, eroding public trust, and placing immense pressure on our health and care workforce. But amidst these challenges, there is great hope as can be seen from the innovative solutions developed, tried and tested by our Bevan Exemplars.”

The report highlights a selection of innovative projects, from the Bevan Exemplars programme, that are demonstrating tangible impacts on waiting times and system capacity. These projects, led by frontline health and care professionals, are tackling the crisis head-on and driving forward the changes needed in a variety of ways:

Optimising processes and workflows
Delivering more care in community settings
Prioritising patients based on clinical need
Leveraging technology to enhance efficiency
Expanding the roles of healthcare professionals

Examples of successful Exemplar projects include:

Prostate Active Care Together (PACT)– Freeing up thousands of GP appointments by empowering men with prostate cancer to manage their care at home.
Mental Health Response Vehicles– Reducing A&E visits by 71% through rapid, community-based mental health assessments.
First Contact Dietitian-Led Gastroenterology Clinics– Slashed wait times from three years to four months by empowering dietitians to provide initial assessments and management.
Radiology Pathway Navigation– Streamlining the radiology process to reduce delays and improve patient experience, particularly for cancer patients.

“These projects are ‘no brainers‘,” says Dr. Helen Howson. “They demonstrate that by working smarter, not harder, we can make significant improvements to patient care and system efficiency. If scaled up across Wales, they could have a transformative impact.”

The report also draws on lessons from past successes, such as the NHS Plan in the early 2000s and international examples from Canada, New Zealand, Denmark and Sweden. It highlights the importance of sustained investment, better integration of services, and streamlined patient flow.

Based on its analysis, the Bevan Commission makes five key recommendations:

Review all waiting lists to ensure treatments remain necessary and appropriate.
Implement High-Impact Theatre (HIT) sessions and surgical hubs to tackle backlogs.
Adopt Patient-Initiated Follow-Up (PIFU) and See on Symptoms (SOS) pathways to reduce unnecessary appointments.
Scale up successful Bevan Exemplars projects across Wales.
Improve system and patient flow through streamlined pathways and enhanced coordination between care sectors.

“The time for action is now,” concludes Dr. Helen Howson. “We encourage the Welsh Government, healthcare leaders, and professionals across the country to embrace these projects and the recommendations working collaboratively to adopt spread and embed more innovative solutions. Together, we can create a more efficient, equitable, and sustainable health and care system for Wales.“

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Bevan Exemplar Cohort 5

Bevan Commission — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 11:04:13 +0000

View all Exemplar Projects from this cohort

Watch the showcase presentations

Read the report

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New guidance published: Caring for someone dying at home

Bevan Commission — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 14:44:55 +0000

Caring for someone dying at home

In December 2022 we published a new piece of guidance to provide some practical advice and support to those who are caring for a seriously ill or dying relative at home.

This document was prepared by Professor the Baroness Finlay of Llandaff, FRCP FRCGP FMedSci FLSW FHEA Hon Professor of Palliative Medicine, Cardiff University and Bevan Commissioner, alongside input from Bevan Advocate Lesley Bethell, Chair of Compassionate Cymru and public member of the End of Life Care Board.

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