CONSULTATION on a new plan for mental health services in the Hywel Dda Health Board area has been delayed because of the snap General Election that will be held in June.

The health board has been working on a plan to revamp mental health services across Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire ahead of a consultation this year.

However, the announcement that a snap General Election will be held on 8 June, has led to the consultation into the board’s proposals to be put back.

That means there is now likely to be no decision by board members into the future of mental health services until the end of November.

A report that went before the May meeting of the Ceredigion committee of the Hywel Dda Community Health Council said that, while work on the new plan for mental health services was almost completed, a consultation document had been held back because of the election.

It says: “The ‘Transforming Mental Health’ service change programme continues to progress.

“After an engagement period, an independent evaluation report and an options development period with further engagement, a consultation document has been produced.

“With the impending General Election, the health board has had to delay the start date for the formal consultation due to rules relating to the purdah period.”

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