Health

New Years Honour’s for two hard working Hywel Dda employees

Published

11 months ago

December 29, 2023

TWO Hywel Dda University Health Board employees have been awarded a King’s New Year’s Honour.

Gina Beard, Lead Cancer Nurse, is awarded the honour of Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in recognition of her services to Cancer Nursing. Dr Mike Bartlett, Associate Specialist Haematology, is awarded a Medal of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) in recognition of his services to Medical Education.

Gina Beard

Gina Beard said: “I feel overwhelmed and honoured to have been nominated for this award and accept it on behalf of all the cancer teams in Hywel Dda, who work tirelessly to support those facing the challenges of a cancer diagnosis.”

“Receiving a cancer diagnosis is a major life event. It is a privilege to be able to lead services that provide patients with the support and care they need, and work alongside a dedicated and kind team of health and care professionals.

“I would also like thank my amazing family, who believed in me and supported my ambitions as a nurse.”

Gina, who lives in Pembrokeshire, has worked as a nurse for over 30 years and chose to develop her specialism in cancer nursing.

Mandy Rayani, Executive Director of Nursing, Quality and Patient Experience, says: “Gina has consistently delivered an outstanding service to patients and played a leading role in the development of cancer services at Hywel Dda University Health Board.

“I am delighted that she has been recognised for going the extra mile to prioritise patient and staff safety and well-being. I am very grateful to her for her continued leadership of the service, she is an exemplar to us all and brings our values to life every day through her work.”

Gina has played a part in several successful projects and service developments. Amongst her many achievements is the refurbishment of Pembrokeshire Haematology and Oncology Day Unit (PHODU) that was recognised by Macmillan as an approved Quality Cancer Care Environment.

With the formation of Hywel Dda University Health Board in 2009 came the establishment of four separate chemotherapy day units covering three counties across which Gina has worked tirelessly to strengthen the nursing agenda, create consistency in philosophy and delivery of care. She has gone above and beyond not just in maintaining services but in leading service design and development.

Gina was key to establishing CaPS, the Cancer Psychological Support Service – providing emotional support to patients and carers throughout their cancer journey and empowering the cancer workforce with psychological skills in their everyday roles.

Linked to the need for consistency in the approach to care, Gina led the redesign of the telephone triage and advice service for patients having non-surgical cancer treatment. Thanks to this work Health Board can provide a dedicated 24-hour triage and support line that also ensures consistency of service delivery across the four hospitals.

She has been the driving force in the design and implementation of the new Rapid Diagnosis clinic and the Malignancy of Unknown Origin service, which help to meet urgent patient need and transforms the patient experience and care pathway. Such service change has been achieved by Gina’s commitment to collaborative working with senior clinicians, administrators and listening to the needs of patients and their families.

As an advanced practitioner and despite her significant management and leadership responsibilities, patient contact has remained core to her practice. Gina has led the development of nurse and pharmacist led practices in the four hospitals.

In addition to delivering new and additional services, Gina is a powerful advocate and champion of the nursing agenda. She consistently championed and challenges the teams she leads to develop themselves and to improve patient experience, keeping the patient firmly at the centre of the health board’s work. This was particularly evident during the pandemic when she communicated clearly and compassionately and provided reassurance and confidence to staff and patients.

Judith Hardisty, Interim Chair at Hywel Dda University Health Board said: “I am delighted that Gina has been recognised with an MBE for her service to cancer nursing.

“Gina has dedicated over 30 years to cancer nursing, serving her community with care, compassion, and determination to ensure equity of care to all, breaking through the barriers of rurality.

“Gina is a fantastic leader and nurse, always seeking to improve the services to our patients and her colleagues and frequently asks ‘how can we do things better?’. She has a deep sense of duty, commitment, and service to members of the Hywel Dda community – both our staff and patients. Thank you, Gina, for your tireless service and ongoing commitment to health and care in west Wales.”

Dr Mike Bartlett

Responding to the news of his nomination, Dr Bartlett, said: “I feel privileged to receive this award, and accept it on behalf of my colleagues at Hywel Dda University Health Board with whom I have the pleasure of working with, and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) whose bravery knows no bounds.

“I gain a great deal of personal joy from sharing my knowledge with others, within the NHS and in the broader community of west Wales. It has been a real honour to develop the Coastal Medical Program and to work alongside members of the RNLI in supporting them to develop skills that can help to save lives.

“During the winter months we hold classroom-based training courses and practice casualty care, which may include performing CPR or trauma scenarios. From April onwards, we work together on the beaches of Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire and participate in live scenarios – testing the skills of the lifeboat crew in near real-life situations.”

Mike has contributed several years of service to organising and directing Advanced Life Support and Advanced Trauma Courses, ensuring that cohort after cohort of doctors are equipped to provide care to critically ill patients. This role is undertaken in his own time in addition to his post as a senior doctor in Haematology and cancer care.

Unperturbed by the challenges presented by the pandemic, Mike found new ways to teach and worked conscientiously behind the scenes to keep training infrastructure in place. Whilst his leadership and contribution are recognised on a regional basis, he is also an instructor for courses across the UK including at the Royal College of Surgeons, and he is an Honorary Lecturer at Cardiff University Medical School.

Professor Phil Kloer, Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Medical Director at Hywel Dda University Health Board, comments: “Mike is an outstanding and inspirational medical educator with over twenty-five years of service to the NHS.

“Mike is recognised by his peers as an exemplar of teaching and training. His drive and vision have been hugely beneficial to the provision of medical education within a large swathe of mid and west Wales.”

In addition to his commitment to the staff and patients at Hywel Dda, Mike led the development of a unique educational partnership involving medical staff, the RNLI and HM Coastguards in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion – Coastal Medicine. This community-driven and pioneering lifesaving initiative, now in its sixth year, has delivered real and validated impact upon the RNLI teams’ performance in casualty care. Clinical Fellow and Foundation level doctors have trained alongside RNLI and Coastguards in both classroom-based activities, and realistic live action simulations on the seas and beaches.

Congratulating Mike on his award, Judith Hardisty, said: “I am very pleased that Mike has been recognised for his contributions to both Hywel Dda and our local community in west Wales.

“Thanks to his dedication to his profession, countless medical students, doctors of all grades, and most recently dozens of lifeguards and boat crew serving with the RNLI have been trained to save lives, both in hospital and in the community.

“I am aware that Mike firmly believes in giving something back to his local area and this is apparent in how he has gone about in developing the Costal Medicines course – taking his professional knowledge and training and sharing them with volunteers in our communities. We will be forever grateful to him that so many staff and first responding volunteers now feel more confident to save lives in peril around the coasts of Wales.”

The New Year Honours List 2024 marks the incredible public service of individuals from across the UK.

Recipients of the New Year Honours List have been awarded for their outstanding contributions across all parts of the UK for their work on areas including sustained public service, youth engagement and community work.

Health

Phone calls to reduce GP visits for 42% of patients this winter

Published

6 hours ago

November 13, 2024

Tom Sinclair

NEW research from the Royal Voluntary Service has shown that a simple phone call could significantly impact well-being, reducing GP visits by 42% among patients who receive regular telephone support.

The charity urges those feeling isolated this winter, particularly the elderly, to use telephone support services as a way to improve health and free up GP appointments, potentially reducing waiting times. It is estimated that if people experiencing loneliness in later life reduced their GP visits by just one appointment a year, this could free up 588,000 appointments annually.

As winter approaches, the Royal Voluntary Service reports that isolation can sharply increase, especially for adults over 75, with nearly half (47%) of people in this age group feeling lonelier in the colder months. Among those who live alone, one in six say they feel forgotten during winter, and 20% report having no one to turn to for emotional support.

In addition to loneliness, older generations face several winter worries, including increased heating costs, cited by 55% of respondents, and reduced ability to go out, which 29% said they dreaded as winter sets in.

To address these challenges, Royal Voluntary Service has launched the Stay Safe, Warm and Well campaign in partnership with Yakult. The campaign provides a guide for practical and emotional winter preparation, encouraging sign-ups for telephone support services and offering access to the Virtual Village Hall online community for events and activities. Practical advice on money-saving and energy-saving tips is also available through the guide.

Royal Voluntary Service Ambassador Elaine Paige, who has herself made support calls for the charity, described the positive impact these calls can have. “A warm, friendly phone call can transform someone’s day. Some conversations leave you smiling long after the call ends—something we could all use, especially in winter. For those facing the season alone, there are amazing people ready to remind you that you’re not alone,” she said.

The charity’s support services match volunteers with individuals across the UK for friendly chats, reducing isolation and boosting mental health. Catherine Johnstone CBE, Chief Executive of Royal Voluntary Service, said: “The feedback that conversations with volunteers are helping people to visit their GP less is testament to the value of connection.”

Yakult Marketing Manager Reshma Patel added: “Our research with Royal Voluntary Service shows that one in four adults over 75 feel they’d benefit from practical and emotional support over winter. We are committed to helping people access the Stay Safe, Warm and Well guide to support their overall well-being.”

Health

Over 1500 patients in Wales blocked from leaving hospital

Published

13 hours ago

November 13, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE First Minister Eluned Morgan has been pressured on her government’s failure to clear hospital beds in Wales, leading to delays for people seeking urgent medical care.

According to a report from BBC Wales, there are currently 1,600 patients across Wales waiting to be discharged from hospital compared to England where there are currently 12,000.

However, when comparing population sizes, it’s revealed that Wales is performing worse than its closest neighbour, with 0.05% of the population of Wales stuck in hospital beds compared to 0.02% in England.

The Welsh Labour government have been criticised for their failure to clear out backlogs in the system,

The Liberal Democrats have now called on the Welsh Government to provide urgent social care funding to local authorities to help alleviate pressures on the NHS in Wales.

Speaking in the Siambr on Tuesday, The Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS described how over twenty years of Welsh Labour government in Wales had let to a “desperate situation in our NHS, with services nearing breaking point.

Welsh Labours refusal to change their approach and fix a system clogged up by mismanagement is directly responsible for the current situation faced by thousands of patients.

Delays in discharging patients from hospitals are placing huge pressures on both staff and those awaiting care, but there is a way out of this mess and the answer lies in social care.

I have been told by numerous professionals working in healthcare that the first step towards fixing our NHS is made by providing local authorities with the funding to fix social care services within their respected areas.

By dedicating adequate investment into our social care services, we can make life easier for patients discharged from hospital while also lifting the strain on health services throughout Wales.”

Education

Concern over ‘highest-ever’ school bullying rates

Published

15 hours ago

November 13, 2024

Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter

RATES of bullying in Welsh schools have reached record levels, with more than one in three children and young people reporting being bullied, the Senedd heard.

Gareth Davies raised concerns about a 6% increase in bullying between 2021 and 2023, according to a survey of more than 130,000 pupils in 200 secondary schools.

The Conservatives’ shadow mental health minister told the Senedd: “These results are higher than ever previously reported in the survey, which is deeply troubling.”

He said the latest survey showed regression on “just about every metric of pupil wellbeing”, including growing social isolation and a rise in behavioural issues.

Mr Davies, who worked in the NHS in north Wales for more than a decade, pointed to a 2021 legal duty to have regard to the mental health of children and young people.

He said: “The mental health of pupils has declined and reports of bullying in schools have only increased, so the Welsh Government have failed in that duty, unfortunately.”

Plaid Cymru’s Cefin Campbell called for an update to 2019 anti-bullying guidance for school governing bodies following a commitment from the Welsh Government eight months ago.

The shadow education secretary focused on the impact of poverty, warning the high cost of school uniforms can cause stress and lead to bullying.

Mr Campbell, a former lecturer, expressed concerns about penalties, such as detention, for pupils over non-compliance with uniform policies.

Raising a report on “horrific” experiences of racism in Welsh schools, he said one pupil was told a classmate did not want to sit next to them due to the colour of their skin.

“That’s entirely unacceptable in our schools,” said Mr Campbell.

Labour’s Carolyn Thomas warned children’s mental health is at an all-time low, pointing to smartphones and social media as major contributing factors.

She said: “They can be used to bully, manipulate and control, sending young people into an isolated world of despair, not thinking they can get out of it or go to somebody for help.”

The North Wales politician highlighted a petition calling for a ban on phones in schools.

Rhys ab Owen, an independent who represents South Wales Central, stressed that bullying can impact people for decades to come after school.

“But it’s an issue that doesn’t affect learners equally,” he said. “In Cardiff, around a third of learners come from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

“And I was staggered to read a survey from 2020, which said that 61.5% of learners had expressed stereotypes over skin colour, religion and nationality.”

In a statement on November 12 to mark anti-bullying week, Lynne Neagle accepted that bullying continues to be an issue in Welsh schools.

Pledging to prioritise the problem, Wales’ education secretary said new statutory anti-bullying guidance will be published for consultation after Christmas.

Ms Neagle pointed to concerning trends, including 42% of girls scoring high or very high in a questionnaire on psychological problems compared with 27% of boys.

She told the Senedd: “I wouldn’t want to be a teenager growing up today.”

Ms Neagle stated the Welsh Government provided more than £800,000 this year for one of the biggest surveys of children and young people in the UK.

She said: “The link between bullying and mental health is well known. At its most extreme, young people have taken their own lives as a result of being bullied. This is a tragedy for the young life lost, for their family and friends and for whole communities.”