WALES’ leading doctor Sir Dr Frank Atherton has announced he will stand down after eight and half years as the Welsh Government’s Chief Medical Officer.

Sir Frank has provided independent advice to the Welsh Government on all major issues affecting the health sector in Wales.

During his tenure in Wales, after a previous post in Canada, Sir Frank played a leading role in Wales’ response to the Covid pandemic and has supported the NHS through flu outbreaks and annual winter pressures.

Speaking about Sir Frank’s decision to stand down, Health Secretary Jeremy Miles said: “Sir Frank has provided invaluable advice and guidance, which I am hugely grateful for.

“He played a leading role in our response to the pandemic, ensuring people throughout Wales received valuable information about the virus and about how to keep themselves and their loved ones safe. I wish him all the best for the future.”

Judith Paget, chief executive of NHS Wales, said: “Frank has shown how passionate he is about improving health outcomes for the Welsh population and has led the way on improving the quality of healthcare.

“It has been a privilege to work with him and to have the benefit of his experience and commitment to new approaches.

“He has played a crucial role in being the Welsh voice around the table with other UK Chief Medical Officers, government departments and organisations”

Sir Frank has been responsible for leading the medical profession in Wales and the development of health and care research.

Speaking ahead of leaving his post, Sir Frank said: “It has been a privilege to act as CMO and a highlight of my professional career to have served the people of Wales during this incredibly challenging time.

“I would like to thank all those other civil servants, who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes, who have assisted me for almost a decade in this role.”

Frank Atherton’s successor will be announced in due course.

A WELSH NHS Confederation spokesperson has highlighted the immense pressure currently facing health and social care services in Wales due to a combination of factors, including winter viruses, staff sickness, cold weather, and an influx of severely ill patients.

Significant Challenges Across Services
Rising cases of flu and respiratory illnesses are significantly impacting NHS services, including GPs, urgent, and emergency care. Hospitals are opening surge bed capacity where possible and temporarily increasing staffing levels in community services to cope with demand. Many health boards have reinstated stricter infection prevention measures, such as mask-wearing in hospitals, and are asking unwell visitors to stay home to protect patients and staff.

High Levels of Escalation and Delays
Hospitals across Wales are operating at critical levels, resulting in long waits for care, including ambulance handover delays. Health boards are grappling with the difficult decision to postpone non-urgent treatments and surgeries, further straining efforts to reduce waiting lists. High levels of community infections, including flu, COVID-19, RSV, and norovirus, are exacerbating the situation by causing bed closures and ward cleaning to prevent the spread of illnesses. One health board, for example, has approximately 100 beds closed due to flu.

Discharge Delays Impacting Patient Flow
A persistent issue is the significant number of medically fit patients remaining in hospitals while awaiting care and support at home. This bottleneck affects the flow of patients through the system. Health boards are working closely with local authorities to expedite discharges and free up beds for those requiring hospital care.

Appeal to the Public
Healthcare staff are working tirelessly under incredibly challenging conditions. The Welsh NHS Confederation has urged the public to treat health and care staff with respect and to take steps to help alleviate pressure on the NHS:

• Take precautions in icy weather to prevent falls, particularly among the elderly.
• Ensure prescription medicines and first aid supplies are stocked.
• Check on vulnerable loved ones and practice good hand hygiene.
• Seek vaccinations for flu, COVID-19, and RSV to protect against severe illness.
• Use NHS 111 online for advice and minor ailments, and visit pharmacies or Minor Injury Units where appropriate.

“Staff are doing everything they can to provide care in these extremely difficult circumstances,” the spokesperson said. “We all have a role in ensuring NHS resources are available for those who need them most.”

For more information, visit the NHS 111 website or contact your local pharmacy for support with minor health concerns.

MEGAN WARE, a Learning Disability Children’s Community Nurse in Hywel Dda University Health Board, was recently awarded the ‘Dame Elizabeth Fradd Memorial Prize for Outstanding Achievement’ by the Queen’s Nursing Institute.

This prestigious award was presented to Megan in recognition of her hard work and achievements across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, and Pembrokeshire.

Megan was nominated by one of her lecturers in the University of South Wales. There were many reasons that helped influence her nomination for this award. She has enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to gain experience, develop and achieve. She helped with teaching year one community children’s nursing students in the Specialist Practitioner Qualification (SPQ), sharing her own learning from her clinical practice.

Her innovation and encouragement have inspired others to feel confident within their future specialist practice and she has excelled clinically, achieving all the elements of the course to a high standard.  

Megan said: “I have always been passionate about making a positive difference to people’s lives and I feel so privileged to be in the position I am as a nurse working with children with learning disabilities and complex needs. I was completely shocked to have won this award but feel proud at the fact that I have been recognised for my work and efforts in completing the course.”

Megan is also the first learning disability nurse in Wales working within a community children’s nursing team to complete her SPQ in children’s community nursing. The course prepares nurses to become a specialist practitioner following the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s standards of proficiency for community nursing specialist practice qualifications. The skills taught involve health education and health promotion, how to improve quality in healthcare settings, leadership, and management and more.

Sharon Daniel, Interim Executive Director of Nursing, Quality and Patient Experience at the health board praised Megan’s achievement, saying: “I am proud of Megan for obtaining this award and for being the first learning disability nurse to study for the Specialist Practitioner Qualification in Wales. It is testament to all her hard work and commitment to extending her knowledge as a nurse working with and benefiting children in our community.”

Megan plans on finishing her dissertation and completing her Masters degree, which will help further her career.

This annual award is for the most outstanding student in the Specialist Practice Qualification in community children’s nursing across universities in Wales, England, and Northern Ireland. The Dame Elizabeth Fradd Memorial Prize was established in 2024 to honour the legacy of Dame Elizabeth Fradd, a Fellow of the Queen’s Nursing Institute and a distinguished children’s nurse.