Shaping the Future of Penley Hospital

Update 7^th November 2025.

In recent months we have undertaken a comprehensive first phase of engagement with local communities to seek their views on the future use of Penley Hospital, following the decision to temporarily close its inpatient beds in December 2024, due to concerns around the sustainability of the care model and ongoing staffing challenges.

As well as undertaking a detailed analysis of their feedback, which is summarised here, we have also held two facilitated sessions with identified representatives from key stakeholder groups to develop and assess potential future service models against a series of agreed criteria to determine their viability and sustainability.

This has led to the development of a medium list of four scenarios, which are summarised below, and you can find more detail on here: Penley Medium List of Scenarios

1. Develop an integrated Health and Wellbeing Hub/Health Care centre

2. Open a rehabilitation/step down facility with inpatient beds

3. Open a Health & Wellbeing hub plus third sector facility

4. Enhance community services without using the physical building

These four scenarios were considered at length during our most recent stakeholder session, attended by representatives from patient group, Llais; county and community councils; third sector representatives; and local nurse and primary care leaders.

Based on scoring conducted by those in attendance against co-developed desirable criteria, it was proposed that options 1, 3, and 4 should be progressed for further development and engagement. Option 2 received lower scores and has not been recommended for prioritisation at this stage

The next phase of work will now involve further engagement with local residents, staff and clinicians to explore these three options, specifically looking at their benefits, disadvantages and if there is anything missing or anything the Health Board needs to consider.

We would like to thank everyone who has already taken the time to share their views with us, and we look forward to further conversations as we enter our next phase of engagement.

Background

The inpatient beds at Penley Hospital were temporarily closed in December 2024 due to concerns around the sustainability of the care model and ongoing staffing challenges. Historically, Penley has provided care for patients who are well enough to leave a main hospital but not yet ready to go home.

The number of patients suitable for this type of care has been limited, and ongoing difficulties with recruitment and reliance on temporary staff have made it increasingly difficult to deliver safe and sustainable care.

We are in the next phase of engagement with the local community. We want to work closely with residents, staff, and partners to shape the future of services at Penley, including reviewing the challenges, listening to what matters most, and exploring different scenarios for delivering care that is safe, high-quality and sustainable.

After gathering community input, the Health Board will develop options and aim to make a decision in a public board meeting in December 2025

What We’ve Heard So Far

Already, hundreds of people have shared their views with us through the initial survey. This feedback is being used to help shape the next phase of work, ensuring that what we’ve heard directly from the community informs how we move forward.

Key documents

How You Can Get Involved

We've met with community groups and organisations who’ve invited us to come and hear their views, and we’ll be continuing this outreach over the coming weeks.

We’re also especially keen to hear from anyone with direct experience of services at Penley Hospital, particularly those who have been an inpatient or supported someone. Your stories and experiences are invaluable in helping us understand what’s worked well, what needs to improve, and what people want for the future.

This is just the start. There will be more opportunities to have your say as the work develops. We want this to be an ongoing conversation.

Have Your Say

To support this phase, we invited people, staff, and interested groups to take part in a short survey. Your feedback will help shape the early thinking and inform the development of options before any decisions are made.

Thank you for sharing your views, the survey is now closed.

We would like to thank everyone who took the time to share their feedback, your views are an important part of this service review.

We expect to seek further views in November on co-produced options. We will publish a summary of what the community tells us and explain how it’s shaping our plans. Your input will be central to the options presented to the Board. We’ll keep you updated throughout, including sharing the final decision and the reasons behind it. This way, you’ll see clearly how your voice has influenced the outcome.

Stay in touch

If you'd like to hear more and be kept informed directly as this work progresses, please let us know. We'd be happy to keep you updated and share further opportunities to get involved. Subscribe to the Health Board’s e-newsletter here.

We will publish a summary of what the community tells us and explain how it’s shaping our plans. Your input will be central to the options presented to the Board. We’ll keep you updated throughout – including sharing the final decision and the reasons behind it. This way, you’ll see clearly how your voice has influenced the outcome.

Thank you for helping us shape the future of care in Penley.