News

Health staff recognised for outstanding leadership

Published

9 years ago

January 5, 2015

THE LOCAL health board has announced the three finalists in the ‘Outstanding Leadership’ category at this year’s Best of Health staff awards. The Best of Health awards are organised annually by the Hywel Dda University Health Board to recognise and reward the extraordinary achievements of its staff and volunteers, many of whom often go beyond the call of duty in their work for the benefit of patients and service users. This year, 100 entries were received from across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. The winners will be announced at the Best of Health Awards ceremony, sponsored by Health Shield at Parc Y Scarlets in Llanelli on Friday 16 January.

Lisa Gostling, Director of Workforce & Organisational Development said: “These nominations reflect just some of the high quality patient care provided by many of our staff and volunteers and highlight the fantastic efforts and achievements above and beyond their normal day-today work. I wish all the nominees the very best of luck.” The ‘Outstanding Leadership’ category seeks to recognise Hywel Dda staff, whose leadership has contributed to creating an environment where there are high levels of trust, and empowerment, underpinned by effective communication, collaboration and partnership working or the individual who has led a team or teams in identifying and making changes and improvements within own areas of responsibility and the finalists for 2014 are:

Sharon Evans, Senior Nurse for Infection Prevention and Control The nursing team led by Sharon were unanimous in their support of her nomination. Described by colleagues as ‘the essence of an outstanding leader, the type that the Hywel Dda both wants and deserves’ Sharon’s nomination demonstrates that as a leader she is level-headed and supportive; lives the message that there is no ‘I’ in team and demands high standards from all the team but constantly demonstrates those standards herself via a strong work ethic. As well as her work inside the University Health Board, Sharon is recognised as a leader in her field within NHS Wales, and is often turned to for an expert view in her specialist field and serves as a wise elder amongst her specialist as well as generalist colleagues across Wales.

Senior Paediatric Nursing Team Recognised as a team, the senior paediatric nursing team from Withybush and Glangwili Hospitals are finalists in recognition of their leadership shown through major service change. Described as role models to staff as they embrace change, their nomination describes the leadership shown as exemplary at a very difficult time for the service and recognises their continued focus, hard work, flexibility and support of the staff involved.

Peter Llewellyn, Assistant Director of Strategic Partnerships Peter’s nomination describes him as ‘that rare breed of manager and leader that can complete the journey from a dream to a successfully delivered project’. As an honest leader with open standards, Peter has been recognised for knowing the strengths and interests of his team and how to capitalise on this for Hywel Dda. His nomination focuses on his recent work in setting up the new Central Transport Unit which, thanks to Peter’s vision and tireless effort, has made major improvements to non emergency transport services across the University Health Board for both patients and staff. Chief Executive of Health Shield Jonathan Burton said: “It is a big achievement to be recognised for the great work that you do in any profession, but even more so at the Hywel Dda Best of Health Staff Awards. On behalf of all of us here at Health Shield I would like to say congratulations to everyone who has been shortlisted. “We would like to wish everyone the best of luck in the awards, and well done for reaching this stage. You deserve all the recognition you get as I know that you regularly go above and beyond the call of duty.”

News

Body found in missing person search in Carmarthenshire

Published

5 mins ago

November 29, 2023

Tom Sinclair

IN THE LAST few moments, Dyfed-Powys Police can confirm that a body has been found this afternoon, Wednesday, November 29, during the search for Angharad, who had been reported missing.

Formal identification has not yet taken place, however Angharad’s family has been informed of this development.

Police said: “Our thoughts remain with the family at this difficult time.”

Education

Excellent progress on construction of new Welsh medium primary school

Published

38 mins ago

November 29, 2023

Tom Sinclair

A CELEBRATION event was held on the site of the new Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Penfro in Pembroke on Tuesday 14th November to mark the reaching of the highest point of the building, traditionally known as the ‘topping-out’ ceremony.

The event was hosted by Morgan Sindall Construction & Infrastructure Ltd and attended by pupils and staff from Ysgol Gelli Aur, the Executive Headteacher of the new school, governors of the Temporary Governing Body of Ysgol Bro Penfro, Cabinet members, senior Council officers, and a members of the project team.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language, Cllr Guy Woodham, said that he was extremely pleased with progress at the site.
“Whilst I was unfortunately unable to attend the ceremony, my Cabinet colleagues have shared with me their experience, and the excellent progress being made on the new school.
“I am particularly pleased that the project remains on budget, and on programme, which means that Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Penfro will be in a position to admit pupils in September 2024.”
Members of the school’s Temporary Governing Body expressed their delight with the building.

The Executive Headteacher of Ysgol Bro Penfro, Mr Dafydd Hughes, confirmed that pupils and staff thoroughly enjoyed the event and that everyone connected with the school is excited at the prospect of moving to the new school next year.

“The fact that a new Welsh medium primary school is being built in Pembroke is an important and exciting development on so many levels.

“As Executive Headteacher of Ysgol Bro Penfro I am committed to ensure that when the school opens its doors in September 2024 every pupil will be given opportunities to flourish and thrive in a welcoming Welsh medium setting. I am also focused on ensuring that the whole Pembroke community takes great pride in the school.”

Pupils were very excited to see the new school. Among the comments received were: “We loved signing the steels, it will help us to remember when we came here when our school was being built and we will always be a part of our new school”

“I can see that everyone is working really hard to build us our school. The school is so much bigger than we expected and can’t wait to start learning in our new classes”.

The project is being funded by Welsh Government and Pembrokeshire County Council, and will provide a significant contribution to the Council’s Welsh in Education Strategic Plan.

News

County mourns loss of revered priest and community pillar, Father McGreal

Published

2 hours ago

November 29, 2023

Tom Sinclair

THE CATHOLIC community in Pembrokeshire is in mourning this week after the passing of one of its most well-known priests, Father Owen McGreal, aged 88, former parish priest of St Teilo’s Catholic Church, Tenby and former governor of Mary Immaculate RC School in Haverfordwest.

It is understood that Father Owen passed away peacefully on Tuesday morning (Nov 28).

Although he had retired from his role as parish priest in 2014, he remained active in the community, serving as a cover priest. He attended a Paul Sartori event in Haverfordwest just a few weeks ago.

In 2009, family, friends, civic guests, clergy, religious, and parishioners gathered together at St. Teilo’s Catholic Church, Tenby, to attend a Concelebrated Mass of Thanksgiving for the Golden Jubilee of Father Owen’s ordination to the priesthood.

His brothers, Lt. Col. Patrick McGreal and Mrs. McGreal, Fr. Michael McGreal (who passed away last year, aged 92), and many nephews, nieces, great-nephews, and great-nieces came from Ireland to celebrate this great event. Among the guests were Rt. Rev. Bishop Thomas Burns SM, then the recently appointed Bishop of Menevia; Bishop Emeritus Rt. Rev. Daniel Mullins, former Bishop of Menevia; and fellow clergy.

In 2014, on his retirement, there was a concert at St Teilo’s bidding farewell to Father Owen after a total of almost 25 years of dedicated service.

Father Owen had dedicated a large part of his life in the church to the service of young people, so it seemed fitting, many said, that the concert included young talented musicians from not only Tenby but also from as far away as Norway and the USA.

On the news of Father McGreal’s passing yesterday, Leanne Prevel, Acting Headteacher of Mary Immaculate RC School, said in a letter to parents and guardians: ‘It is with heavy hearts that we share with you the death of Father McGreal, former parish priest, school governor, and long-term supporter and champion of Mary Immaculate School.

‘We understand that this news will have come as a shock to members of our school community.

‘Should you or your family need any support at this time, please do not hesitate to contact the school, or the Parish…’

‘Our Mass planned for December 8 will now be for the repose of the soul of Father McGreal. We also intend to hold a gathering at the school to remember and celebrate his life in the next couple of weeks. Further details will be shared with our school community in the coming days.

‘We remember in our prayers, Father Owen McGreal, and those impacted by his death.'”