Llais is launching a bold new national conversation to reimagine health and social care in Wales and they want to hear from you.

The statistics are shocking: Over 700,000 people in Wales are waiting for treatment, with 60,000+ for over a year. Over 200 GP surgeries have closed or merged in the past decade.

People in the deprived areas spend nearly 20 fewer years in good health than those in the least deprived. 1 in 10 adults live with diabetes; 1 in 5 report a mental health condition; 27 per cent are classified as obese. Diagnoses of type 2 diabetes in under-40s are increasing. More than a quarter of children aged 4–5 are overweight or obese, with the highest rates in the most deprived communities. 95,000 people aged 65+ need help with daily activities but receive no formal support.

1 in 10 social care jobs is vacant, new care worker recruitment has dropped by 12 per cent, while over 320,000 unpaid carers in Wales provide essential support, with nearly a third saying they are at breaking point.

Taking place over the coming months and with engagement activities coming to a close at the end of September, the national conversation ‘The Health and Social Care We Want’ invites people across Wales to share what matters most to them. Following this a report containing a summary of the findings will be published, along with a series of recommendations and a proposed framework for making it easier for people to understand their rights and responsibilities.

It’s about creating a fairer and more balanced relationship between people and the services that are important to them, while making it easier for people to understand their rights and responsibilities when it comes to care services.

The project aims to make rights and responsibilities around care clearer; to help people and services understand what to expect from each other; to empower everyone to shape the future of health and social care.

People can get involved through an online survey, by contacting Llais directly, or by joining one of many events and group sessions Llais will be holding across Wales.

Health and social care organisations will also be hosting their own conversations to gather feedback.

Alyson Thomas, Chief Executive of Llais said:

“Every day, we hear from people who feel lost in the system — waiting in pain, caring without support, or unsure where to turn.”

“But we also see what’s working: dedicated staff, innovative ideas, and communities coming together. This conversation is about making sure those voices are heard, and shaping a better future.”

Professor Medwin Hughes, Chair of Llais said: “This is about more than listening, it’s about action. We want to create a system that reflects people’s real needs and priorities. Every voice matters.”

The conversation runs until September 30, 2025, after which Llais will publish a report with key findings, recommendations, and a framework for change.

For more information on how to get involved, visit www.llaiswales.org/wewant .