Hywel Dda welcomes Sarah Harraway as new Independent Member for Community
Hywel Dda University Health Board is delighted to share the appointment of Sarah Harraway as its new Independent Member - Community. Sarah will attend her first Board meeting today, 29 May, marking the beginning of her tenure supporting the organisation’s mission to deliver compassionate, community-centred healthcare across west Wales.
Sarah succeeds Delyth Raynsford, who held the post for the maximum tenure of an independent board member.
Paying tribute, Dr Neil Wooding, Chair of Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “We are deeply grateful to Delyth for her eight years of service. Her wisdom, integrity, and unwavering commitment to the communities of west Wales have left a lasting legacy. As we welcome Sarah, we also pause to value the strong foundation Delyth built.”
Sarah brings a wealth of experience from a diverse and dynamic career that spans marketing, photography, NHS transformation, and pharmaceutical industry. After starting her professional career in marketing with Thomson Directories, Sarah transitioned into the creative world of photography, working as a reportage-style wedding photographer.
Her most impactful contributions, however, have come through her work in the NHS. Over a decade, Sarah held roles focused on system redesign and change management, including as a programme manager for one of NHS England’s pioneering Vanguard sites. She also led outpatient and informatics change programmes in acute care and evaluated healthcare innovations at the Wessex Health Science Network. Most recently, she worked as a Senior Insight Manager in the pharmaceutical sector, helping to bridge the gap between NHS needs and patient’s life-changing treatments.
Now based in Ceredigion, Sarah has embraced coastal life and enjoys being an active member of her local community. She is also learning Welsh and remains deeply committed to community engagement.
Speaking about her appointment, Sarah said: “I'm very excited to take a break from early retirement to rejoin the NHS - especially so at a time when Hywel Dda is in such an exciting phase of change and development. I’m passionate about bringing communities into the healthcare ecosystem to ensure that services are truly patient-centric. I look forward to listening, learning, and contributing to the Board’s important work.”
Dr Neil Wooding, added: “We are thrilled to have Sarah join us as an Independent Member. Her unique blend of strategic insight, creative thinking, and deep commitment to community engagement will be invaluable as we continue to evolve our services. I’m very much looking forward to working with her and seeing the positive impact she will bring.”
Sarah’s appointment reflects the Board’s ongoing commitment to inclusive leadership and community representation as it shapes the future of healthcare in the region.