ELUNED MORGAN, the Welsh Labour politician serving as Minister for Health and Social Services in the Welsh Government visited Paul Sartori House last week (Thursday, Jul 28), the main offices for Paul Sartori Hospice at Home service provider in Pembrokeshire. The Minister had a tour around the building which includes their clinical operations, bereavement counselling rooms, complementary therapy suite, equipment loan store, administration and income generation.

Whilst visiting, the Health Minister spoke to the clinical management team to learn more about the services provided by the local charity. David Evans, Chair of Trustees at Paul Sartori was also in attendance, he explained about the charitable finances. Fay Morley, Advance Care Planning Registered Nurse Team Leader at Paul Sartori discussed the impact and sustainability of the Advance & Future Care planning services in Pembrokeshire.

David Evans, Chair of the Trustees at Paul Sartori said “It was great to meet the Health Minister to discuss and explain how the Advance Care Planning funded by GP practices is doing so much to help people make their end-of-life care decisions. The Minister was impressed with all aspects of the work of the foundation and how we integrate with HDUHB care in Pembrokeshire.”

Minister for Health and Social Services, Eluned Morgan said: “It was fantastic to visit Paul Sartori House and meet the people behind the charity. Their services and hard work are making a real difference to people in Pembrokeshire receiving palliative care; ensuring they can be cared for with dignity and independence at home.”

Paul Sartori Hospice at Home provides a range of services to Pembrokeshire people living in the final stages of a life-limiting illness, including home nursing care, equipment loan, complementary therapy, bereavement and counselling support, under 18’s anticipatory grief and bereavement support, physiotherapy, advance care planning and training.

The services provided by the Paul Sartori Hospice at Home enable people in the later stages of any life-limiting illness to be cared for and to die at home with dignity, independence, pain free and surrounded by those they hold most dear, if that is their wish.

All of the services are free of charge and are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, thanks to the generosity of the Pembrokeshire Community.

Further information on the charity and its services can be obtained by visiting their website www.paulsartori.org, or by phoning 01437 763223.

Photo: Left to right – Eluned Morgan, Health Minister, Fay Morley, Advance Care Planning Registered Nurse and David Evans, Chair of the Paul Sartori Trustees

HYWEL DDA Health Charities is funding six major projects to support the health and wellbeing of the 12,000-plus NHS staff working across the Hywel Dda University Health Board area.

This has been possible thanks to a £242,000 grant from the NHS Charities Together COVID-19 Urgent Appeal which raised more than £130 million to help with the impact of the pandemic on NHS staff thanks to the kindness and generosity of the British public.

The projects are providing a range of opportunities and support including ecotherapy retreats, Wellbeing Champions, bereavement support and training, staff rest areas, a lifelong learning fund, and arts in health and wellbeing activities.

And more than 2,700 Hywel Dda University Health Board staff across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire have already benefited from the projects.

One ecotherapy retreat for staff has already been held, with four more planned for 2022 and five for 2023.

The retreats have been specially designed for Hywel Dda staff and are aimed at those who are experiencing high levels of stress or who are at risk of burnout. They give an opportunity to slow down and reflect and experience restoration in nature and staff taking part have already talked of healing and nature becoming an ally.

More than 130 staff have registered to become Wellbeing Champions and 65 have already completed the induction programme. The aim is to have 100 champions in place by September this year, promoting health and wellbeing in the workplace.

Local initiatives that have already been developed by the champions include lunchtime Tai Chi classes, ward-based wellbeing libraries, and programmes supporting hydration, exercise and relaxation.

Two Specialist Bereavement Staff Support Trainers have been appointed on a job-share basis to provide education for staff relating to death, dying and bereavement. They have established a bereavement support and training project, working with senior nursing teams and operational managers.

Workshops are being held for staff focusing on grief, loss and bereavement, including the effects of working through the pandemic and self-care. Participants to date have included senior nurses, staff nurses, family liaison officers, health care support workers, occupational therapists and physiotherapists. They have reported that the workshops have been of huge benefit in supporting patients and families with symptoms of grief.

The grant funding will also enable new staff rest areas to be created as well as improvements to be made to existing rest areas, following engagement with staff. These indoor and outdoor rest areas will enable staff across the health board to benefit from fresh air and relaxation time as well as more comfortable surroundings for breaks.

The Lifelong Learning Fund has also been launched, which offers staff the chance to apply for funding to learn new skills to help them recover from the experience of the pandemic.

Arts in health and wellbeing activities are also being provided for staff. The Hywel Dda Arts in Health Coordinators have piloted a programme of creative activities, including live music performances, creative writing sessions, online singing activities and arts and culture events.

Lisa Gostling, the health board’s Director of Workforce & Organisation Development, said: “We consulted with staff to understand their experiences of working during the pandemic and, in understanding the huge impact the pandemic had on our staff’s wellbeing, we wanted to invest in programmes and initiatives that provided mechanisms for reflection and Recovery.

“Some of our staff worked in extremely challenging circumstances and we have been able to invest in programmes that will all help to support the well-being of our staff at work. We are so grateful for the opportunity to provide these much-needed facilities and programmes for the staff at Hywel Dda. In supporting the wellbeing of our staff we can continue to support our patients and public to the best of our ability.”

Mandy Rayani, Director of Nursing, Quality and Patient Experience for the health board, said: “During the pandemic, our staff have gone above and beyond and have worked to ensure that appropriate 24/7 care has been available to meet patient needs across our three counties. 

“We are so proud of our staff and one of our priorities now is to support their rest, recovery and the restoration of their wellbeing. These six new projects to support staff wellbeing and recovery in the longer term have been well received by our teams and we are very grateful for the support of NHS Charities Together and the public through their donations.”

THIS WEEKEND, July 16, at 9am bikes are leaving from Carew Airfield Business Park, Sageston, Tenby, Pembrokeshire, SA70 8SX and going to Bala Lake, Gwynedd, Ll23 7XX
The organisers said: “This is not the only ride-out we have planned in aid of the appeal. Another is planned final dates for this and departure points have yet to be announced so make sure to follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/henrysholidays or sign up for our push notifications on the website to keep you up to date!
“The ride-out is not the only way you can contribute to the appeal. We have exclusive Welsh limited Edition tea shirts and Limited Edition Summer Party tea shirts and other merchandise available in our shop. Every penny we make from the sale of merchandise and hotel flight bookings and all other bookings will be going to the appeal up until the 30th of September 2022.
“You don’t book with us. We search hundreds of websites and apps, using advanced search technology to find you the best hotel, flight, and car rental deals and so much more!
“We are planning to give most of the money we make putting it back into environmentally friendly projects and charities worldwide! Imagine if all companies did this the world would be a better place!”

To find out more please visit the website https://henrysholidays.global/