News

2015 NHS Wales Awards launched

Published

11 years ago

December 9, 2014

HEALTHCARE staff and students at Hywel Dda University Health Board, who are delivering innovative ways of improving patient care, are being urged to enter the NHS Wales Awards 2015 which are launched on Tuesday (Nov 18). Now in its eighth year, the awards are open to teams and organisations that have come up with new ways of working that have transformed the quality and safety of care for patients.

Staff who have taken part in the national learning programme Improving Quality Together (IQT), which helps them develop skills to improve care, are also encouraged to enter. Welsh Health and Social Services Minister Mark Drakeford said, “In an age of austerity the pressures on our services are real. Against that background, it is especially important to recognise the efforts of staff who work so hard in caring for and supporting patients.

The NHS Wales Awards 2015 are a chance for us to celebrate all that is good about the NHS and I would encourage anyone who works in the NHS to take advantage of this opportunity to celebrate excellence in care by submitting an entry to the awards.” Staff will be encouraged to enter the following eight categories;

• Citizens at the centre of service re-design and delivery – work that involves patients and the public in the planning and delivery of services

• Developing a flexible and sustainable workforce – models that show how the workforce has been developed to meet specific needs such as supporting care in the community • Improving patient safety – initiatives that prevent or reduce harm to patients • Improving quality through better use of resources –achieving higher quality services by using resources in a more effective way including money, buildings, equipment and people • Promoting better health and avoiding disease – clear strategies that have improved health and wellbeing of patients

• Promoting clinical research and application to practice –combining academic expertise with clinical practice to improve services • Students improving patient safety and quality – initiatives that helped reduce or prevent harm to patients and improve care

• Working seamlessly across organisations – partnership working that has improved patient care There is also an Outstanding Innovation in Care Award presented to the overall winner from the eight categories.

The NHS Wales Awards are organised by the 1000 Lives Improvement service in Public Health Wales. Tim Heywood, Acting Director of 1000 Lives Improvement, said: “It’s always exciting to see the range of diverse and inspiring projects that are entered into the Awards each year showing the difference NHS Wales staff are making to patient care every day. This is the chance to showcase that work and share best practice across Wales and I would urge staff at all levels to take advantage of this opportunity and enter their work. It could be a winner!”

Crime

Rugby player’s life changed forever by random knife attack — attacker jailed for 22½ years

Published

16 minutes ago

December 19, 2025

Seren Baker

A YOUNG rugby player was left fighting for his life after being stabbed repeatedly outside a Gorseinon social club — and on Friday (Dec 19) the man responsible was jailed at Swansea Crown Court.

Morgan Hopkins, aged 18 at the time of the attack, was seriously injured in the early hours of Sunday (June 22) outside The New Lodge Social Club on Alexandra Road.

Mr Hopkins, known to friends as “Hobby”, is a local rugby player with Morriston RFC. He had been waiting for a lift home with his girlfriend when trouble broke out nearby.

The court heard that Mr Hopkins attempted to defuse a confrontation between another group of males and Kane Evans. As tensions rose, Evans approached Mr Hopkins armed with a knife.

In a final attempt to calm the situation, Mr Hopkins reportedly said: “No one needed to get hurt.”

***Morgan Hopkins,18, pictured here with his parents was left with life-changing injuries following the attack***

Moments later, Evans launched a ferocious and unprovoked attack.

Mr Hopkins was stabbed no fewer than ten times to the chest and abdomen. Surgeons later told police that one of the wounds was less than half an inch from being fatal.

He underwent extensive emergency surgery and was left with lasting physical and psychological injuries.

In a victim personal statement read to the court, Mr Hopkins described the terror of the attack and the devastating impact it has had on his life.

He said his dream of playing professional rugby had been put on hold, adding that the loss of weekly matches had left him feeling lost and isolated. He told the court he no longer felt safe in his own home and struggled to go out, describing ongoing anxiety and depression.

Mr Hopkins also detailed the financial consequences of the attack, saying he had lost around £4,800 in wages and a further £800 from a cancelled holiday.

Police confirmed that Kane Evans, now aged 21, had gone out that night armed with a kitchen knife and may also have been carrying a second Stanley-type blade.

Officers said Evans was aggressive at the time of his arrest and was later charged with attempted murder and possession of a bladed article.

At Swansea Crown Court today, Evans was sentenced to 22 and a half years in prison, with an extended licence period of five years to follow.

Passing sentence, the judge described the attack as random and extremely violent, warning that Evans posed a serious ongoing risk to the public.

Family members and supporters of Mr Hopkins were present in court as the sentence was handed down.

Since the attack, friends, teammates and members of the local community have rallied around Mr Hopkins, offering support as he continues his recovery from injuries that have permanently altered his life.

Crime

Police appeal after stolen Ford Fiesta crashes into lamppost

Published

37 minutes ago

December 19, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Officers ask residents to check CCTV and dashcam footage

POLICE are appealing for information following the theft of a vehicle in Ystradowen on Thursday evening (Dec 18).

A silver Ford Fiesta, registration CV05 CVJ, was reported stolen from a property on Brynawel Terrace, Penygraig Road, at around 5.30pm.

The vehicle was later discovered on New Road, Cwmllynfell, where it had been involved in a collision with a lamppost.

Dyfed-Powys Police are asking anyone who may have seen the vehicle, or who lives or travelled along the route between Brynawel Terrace and New Road, Cwmllynfell, to check their CCTV or dashcam footage in case the incident was captured.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police online, by calling 101, or by sending a direct message via social media.

Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Quote reference: 25*1032732.

News

Appeal after bin lorry and e-bike near miss in Tregaron

Published

43 minutes ago

December 19, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Police seek witnesses and dashcam footage after rider injured

Dyfed-Powys Police are appealing for information following a near-miss collision involving a bin lorry and an electric bike rider in Tregaron, Ceredigion.

The incident is reported to have taken place between 12:00pm and 1:00pm on Saturday, December 13, near a property known as Crynfryn.

Police said the electric bike rider suffered injuries as a result of the incident.

Officers are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed the collision, or who may have dashcam footage from the area at the time.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Michael Jones at Dyfed-Powys Police via the online reporting form at https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101.

Those who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired can text the non-emergency number on 07811 311 908.

Quote reference: DP-20251213-152.