Wales adopts national clinical pathway to improve care for polio survivors

20th July 2026

Wales runs a program called the All Wales Community HealthPathways Programme, a shared clinical guidance system that helps GPs, nurses, and other healthcare professionals follow the same best-practice care advice. The programme is used by all seven Welsh health boards: Aneurin Bevan, Betsi Cadwaladr, Cardiff and Vale, Cwm Taf Morgannwg, Hywel Dda, Swansea Bay, and Powys.

Even better, the British Polio Fellowship’s Optimal Care Pathway for Polio Survivors has been adapted and made available as part of the shared HealthPathways guidance in Wales.

This means all healthcare professionals in Wales will work from the same up-to-date clinical pathway, which will provide more consistent care, fewer unnecessary tests, and shorter specialist waiting lists.

Commenting on the milestone, Kripen Dhrona, Chief Executive Officer of the British Polio Fellowship, said: “This is a significant step forward for polio survivors in Wales. By embedding our Optimal Care Pathway within the All Wales Community HealthPathways Programme, healthcare professionals across every Welsh health board will have access to consistent, evidence-based guidance on the long-term effects of polio.

“We hope this will lead to earlier recognition of patients’ needs, more coordinated care, fewer unnecessary investigations, and ultimately better outcomes for people living with the lasting impact of polio including Post-Polio Syndrome. We are grateful to everyone who has helped make this important collaboration a reality.”

Healthcare professionals in Wales can access the pathway here: https://walesdraft.communityhealthpathways.org

British Polio Fellowship’s Optimal Care Pathway for Polio Survivors: https://britishpolio.org.uk/professionals/optimal-clinical-pathway/