Each quarter, we share our latest news and highlight the key themes and learning emerging from our work. It is part of our commitment to better understand our stakeholders’ expectations, proactively engage, share our findings and report on our activity
In this edition, we highlight how our healthcare inspections consider the Welsh language, supporting people to access care in their preferred language. This reflects our commitment to the More Than Just Words Action Plan - the Welsh Government’s strategy for strengthening the use of the Welsh language in health and social care across Wales.
We take a closer look at our recent inspection work, sharing evidence of how services provide care to people in their preferred language and support national progress on Welsh language provision. This includes key themes and insights from Welsh and bilingual inspection activity, with a focus on Action 10 - Welsh language workforce planning and Action 38 - embedding the Active Offer Offer from the More Than Just Words Action Plan. We also draw on Welsh language themes from our Strategy 2026–2030 consultation.
The Active Offer is central to the More Than Just Words strategy. It means providing services in Welsh without someone having to ask. This proactive approach helps create a supportive environment where people feel confident that their health and care needs will be met.
The More Than Just Words Strategy sets the national direction, while the Active Offer ensures this is delivered in practice. At Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW), we assess the Active Offer as a key element of safe, dignified and person-centred care.
Other highlights in this bulletin include:
- The publication of our Strategy 2026-2030 - a strategy for action, focused on improving healthcare for people across Wales now and in the future
- The publication of our latest Operational Plan - our priorities and actions for 2026-2027
- HIWs designation of the Emergency Department at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd as a Service Requiring Significant Improvement (SRSI).
- Our Second Opinion Appointed Doctor (SOAD) Handbook - guidance for SOADs on carrying out their duties under the Mental Health Act, including reviewing and authorising patient treatment
- Our statement on the Supreme Court Judgement on Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
- Updates on our inspection activity across NHS and independent healthcare providers
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Learning and Insight
Welsh language in healthcare inspections: Insights and progress
In this edition, we highlight how our healthcare inspections consider the Welsh language, supporting people to access care in their preferred language. This highlights our commitment to Welsh Government’s More Than Just Words strategy and the delivery of the Active Offer in practice.
We also share key findings from recent inspection activity, highlighting good practice and how services are strengthening Welsh language provision across Wales.
Read more on our webpage for the full insight and findings.
What we heard from our Strategy consultation: Welsh language themes
From September to December 2025, we launched our Strategy 2026–2030 consultation. Over 12 weeks we received over 1,300 responses.
The consultation responses reflected a deep call for improving healthcare in Wales. Alongside recognition of staff who provide dedicated, compassionate and person‑centred care, respondents shared clear views about the challenges they face in accessing healthcare services in Welsh, reporting inconsistent access to Welsh medium care, with the Active Offer not reliably delivered in practice.
While many staff go above and beyond to communicate in Welsh, wider system issues such as shortages of bilingual staff, low confidence, and uneven training means that lived experience frequently falls short of standards.
People strongly linked language choice to dignity, clarity and person-centred care, and expressed a desire for clearer consideration of Welsh language within inspection, reporting and workforce planning. They emphasised that meaningful improvement requires more consistent, practical Welsh language provision across services.
Business Updates
Healthcare Inspectorate Wales sets bold new strategy for healthcare improvement in Wales
A bold plan to put people first, drive improvement across services, and take action where patient safety is most at risk. Shaped by the voices of 2,353 patients, carers, healthcare professionals and members of the public, the strategy focuses on what matters most to people: safe, effective care, timely access, clear communication and services designed around real experiences.
Read our Strategy for 2026-2030
We have published our 2026 – 2027 Operational Plan
Our 2026–2027 Operational Plan outlines our priorities and actions to support safe, high-quality healthcare in Wales.
Shaped by our 2026–2030 Strategy, the plan focuses on four key priorities to drive improvement across services:
- Putting People First
- Learning and Working Together
- Investing in Our People
- Taking Action That Matters.
Read our 2026-2027 Operational Plan
Healthcare Inspectorate Wales designates the Emergency Department at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd as a Service Requiring Significant Improvement
Following an unannounced inspection carried out in May 2026, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) has designated the Emergency Department at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, in Denbighshire, as a Service Requiring Significant Improvement (SRSI).
New SOAD Handbook published
HIW has published a new Second Opinion Appointed Doctor (SOAD) Handbook, offering practical guidance for doctors providing independent opinions under the Mental Health Act.
The handbook sets out the role and safeguarding function of SOADs, outlines the assessment and certification process, and highlights key considerations such as patient engagement, treatment authorisation, and clear decision‑making. It will be updated regularly, with feedback encouraged to keep the guidance relevant.
Supreme Court Judgement on Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) and Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) are responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and jointly publish an annual report of findings.
Following the Supreme Court Judgment on 2 June 2026, there has been a significant change in how a deprivation of liberty is identified and this judgment takes immediate effect.
Activity Updates
Assurance and Inspection Activity
We inspect NHS services and regulate independent healthcare providers against a range of standards, policies, guidance, and regulations to highlight areas requiring improvement. Following our inspection and assurance work we will publish a report outlining our findings and recommendations. Find out how we check healthcare services across Wales by watching this short video.
The latest inspection reports include:
March 2026 – HIW inspection raises concerns about the care environment at specialist mental health hospital in Bridgend
March 2026 – Inspection finds safety and environmental concerns at a specialist mental health hospital in Cardiff
Vacancies
Peer Reviewers play an important part in helping us provide independent assurance about the quality, safety, and effectiveness of healthcare services. They bring specialist knowledge and real‑world experience to our inspection teams, helping us highlight good practice, identify where improvements are needed, and support better outcomes for patients.
We are currently recruiting for several key roles, including Second Opinion Appointed Doctors (SOAD), Practice Nurse Peer Reviewers and Dental Peer Reviewers. These positions offer a unique opportunity to contribute to the regulation and improvement of healthcare services across Wales.
Have Your Say
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All open surveys can now be found on our surveys page.
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