The National Community HealthPathways Programme in Wales: Learning from the first 2 years

Study topic
Evaluation of the first two years of the All-Wales Community HealthPathways programme, focusing on engagement, clinical support, patient experience, national alignment, and efficiency.

Study type
Mixed-methods learning review including survey data, interviews, dashboard analytics, and manual audits.

Key findings

• Community HealthPathways (CHP) is now the preferred guidance source for 55% of users across Wales and 78% in Cardiff & Vale UHB (CAVUHB).
• CHP supports clinical decision-making with localised information on medications, investigations, and referrals; 83% of CAVUHB users found it easy to locate test guidance.
• The Pathway Sharing by Default model has enabled Wales to localise pathways 72% faster than comparable international implementations.
• CHP facilitates national alignment and rapid dissemination of updated clinical guidance, supporting consistent care and reducing unwarranted variation.
• Patient experience is enhanced through succinct pathways, embedded PROMs, and links to waiting times—though practices vary across Health Boards.
• Recommendations include expanding evaluation, improving pathway quality, enhancing engagement strategies, and supporting rollout in BCUHB and PTHB.