Understanding the Structure of NHS Wales and the Role of Patient Outcomes Data
18/03/2025The Welsh NHS Confederation recently published an insightful article outlining the structure of NHS Wales and the complexities of its health and care system.
Unlike NHS England, NHS Wales is composed of multiple organizations working together to deliver healthcare services at a national and local level. From local health boards to NHS trusts and special health authorities, a network of entities plays a role in ensuring the well-being of Welsh citizens.
Key Highlights from the NHS Confederation’s Article
Devolved Governance: Since the establishment of the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) in 1999, health and social care services in Wales have been under the authority of the Welsh Government. The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care oversees NHS Wales, driving policies, funding allocations, and healthcare strategies.
Organizational Structure: NHS Wales is not a single legal entity but rather a network comprising seven Local Health Boards (LHBs), three NHS trusts, and two special health authorities. These organizations work together to plan, commission, and deliver healthcare services.
Local Health Boards (LHBs): These seven boards are responsible for primary, community, and hospital-based care within their respective regions. Their focus is not only on treatment but also on improving physical and mental health outcomes and reducing health inequalities.
NHS Trusts and Special Health Authorities: Three NHS trusts serve national healthcare functions, including public health, cancer care, and emergency services. Special health authorities, such as Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW), support digital transformation initiatives across NHS Wales.
Collaboration with Public Sector Bodies: NHS Wales works closely with Public Service Boards (PSBs) and Regional Partnership Boards (RPBs) to ensure integration between health, social care, and other public sector services.
Promptly Health’s Role in NHS Wales’ Data Transformation
At Promptly Health, we understand the challenges of data standardization and integration across such a diverse healthcare system. Since January 2024, Promptly Health has been the primary technological partner of NHS Wales, tackling one of the system’s biggest challenges: seamless, standardized patient outcomes data collection and integration across a national framework.
Our work supports NHS Wales in improving how real-world patient outcomes data is gathered, analyzed, and leveraged for decision-making. By enhancing the interoperability of data across the seven Local Health Boards and other key stakeholders, we help drive improvements in healthcare delivery, research, and policy development.
Why Patient Outcomes Data Matters
Collecting and standardizing patient outcomes data enables NHS Wales to:
Measure healthcare effectiveness across different regions and organizations.
Identify trends in patient experiences and treatment efficacy.
Drive evidence-based policy changes that improve patient care.
Facilitate research collaborations that advance medical innovation.
Promptly Health’s expertise in data harmonization ensures that NHS Wales can securely and efficiently utilize patient-reported outcomes to enhance clinical care and public health strategies.
Learn More To explore how Promptly Health is driving data transformation in NHS Wales, download our latest Use Case: ‘Transforming Patient Outcomes Data Across NHS Wales.’
