Health

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

Published

2 years 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

FOI raises fresh questions over plan to close Pontyates GP surgery

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Health board accused of misleading claims over recruitment as pressure mounts ahead of final decision

A FREEDOM of Information disclosure has raised serious questions over plans to close Meddygfa’r Sarn in Pontyates, with claims the health board failed to properly attempt to recruit permanent doctors before recommending its shutdown.

The row centres on Hywel Dda University Health Board, which is due to make a final decision on the surgery’s future later this month.

An FOI response reveals that while the board cited a “lack of recruitment interest” in its January report, there is limited evidence of any recent, targeted recruitment campaign specifically aimed at the Pontyates practice.

Instead, the board confirmed that salaried GP roles were advertised in 2020 across its wider portfolio of managed practices — rather than as a focused effort to fill posts at Meddygfa’r Sarn itself. Those vacancies did not result in successful appointments.

‘No real attempt’

Independent Senedd candidate Carl Peters-Bond, who is also a patient at the surgery, has strongly criticised the health board, accusing it of presenting a misleading picture to justify closure.

He said: “They cited a lack of recruitment interest as justification for closing this surgery — but they never actually ran a proper recruitment campaign for it.

“Sending out general adverts years ago is not the same as making a serious, targeted effort to keep a vital community service alive.”

He also raised concerns about the consultation process, claiming it focused on the impact of closure rather than asking whether closure should happen at all.

Fully reliant on locums

The FOI confirms that Meddygfa’r Sarn currently has no salaried GPs and is entirely dependent on locum doctors.

While the health board says this model is unsustainable in the long term, the same disclosure shows several other managed practices across the region also rely heavily on locum staff — some to a significant degree.

Cost data included in the response suggests Meddygfa’r Sarn is not the most expensive practice per patient within the health board’s area.

Alternative options unclear

Another key issue raised by campaigners is the apparent lack of explored alternatives.

The FOI response indicates that the health board does not hold information on alternative local solutions, including potential relocation or different service models within the Pontyates area.

Campaigners argue this suggests closure was considered before all options had been properly examined.

A 52-page independent report submitted as part of the consultation process states that dispersing patients to other surgeries should only be considered as a last resort, after full recruitment efforts and capacity assessments have been carried out.

Health board position

Hywel Dda University Health Board maintains that the surgery, which serves around 4,350 patients, has faced long-standing recruitment difficulties and increasing reliance on temporary staff.

It says a Vacant Practice Panel concluded that dispersing patients to neighbouring surgeries would provide a more sustainable long-term solution.

The board has also acknowledged that transport and access concerns are likely to be a major issue for patients if the closure goes ahead, with a full Equality Impact Assessment expected to be considered before a final decision.

Decision later this month

The future of Meddygfa’r Sarn will be decided at a meeting of Hywel Dda University Health Board on Wednesday (May 28) at Yr Egin in Carmarthen.

With local anger growing and new questions emerging from the FOI disclosure, pressure is mounting on board members to reconsider the proposal.

Campaigners say the case now hinges on a simple question: whether enough was done to save the surgery before moving to close it.

Health

Turkish dental clinic to hold Haverfordwest meet-up

Published

6 days ago

April 29, 2026

Staff Writer

DENTISTS FROM ANTALYA TO VISIT COUNTY TOWN

A TURKISH dental clinic is running a dental meet-up in Haverfordwest this weekend as part of a promotional visit to Wales.

Unique Smile Turkey, which has a permanent office in Wales in Swansea, says its top dentists will be coming to Haverfordwest on Sunday (May 3).

The event is being advertised as a “Dental Meet-Up” and is scheduled to run from 10:00am to 6:00pm at the Mariners Hotel.

The visit features three clinicians: Assoc Prof Dr Ummuhan Tozoglu, described as a specialist in oral diagnosis, radiology and dental planning; Professor Dr Sinan Tozoglu, described as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and implantologist; and Professor Dr Ismet Duran, described as a periodontologist and implantologist.

The team have between twenty and 35 years of experience in their respective fields.

A contact number has also been provided for enquiries: +90 505 678 90 90.

The visit comes amid continuing interest in dental tourism, with many people in the UK looking overseas for cosmetic dentistry, implants and other private dental treatment.

Turkey has become one of the most popular destinations for such treatment, although patients are generally urged to make careful checks before committing to any procedure abroad, including aftercare arrangements, qualifications, insurance, treatment plans and what support would be available if complications arise after returning home.

Health

Welsh public backs urgent action on dementia ahead of Senedd elections

Published

1 week ago

April 28, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Calls grow for diagnosis, care and support to become national priority

NEW figures reveal overwhelming public demand for dementia to be placed at the top of Wales’ political agenda, with voters urging action on diagnosis, treatment and support ahead of the Senedd elections.

Research by Alzheimer’s Society Cymru shows that 83% of people in Wales want dementia made a healthcare priority, while 69% believe it is currently overlooked and underfunded.

More than a thousand adults were surveyed, with the findings highlighting growing concern over diagnosis rates and access to care. Wales continues to record some of the lowest dementia diagnosis rates in the UK, leaving thousands of families without clarity or support.

Around 51,000 people are currently living with dementia in Wales, a figure expected to rise to 70,000 by 2040. Despite this, only 57% of people have received a formal diagnosis, with rates falling as low as 48% in rural areas such as Powys.

Improving diagnosis remains a key concern, with 91% of those surveyed saying access to timely diagnosis must improve, and 87% backing increased investment in diagnostic services. However, respondents also stressed that diagnosis alone is not enough, with 91% saying people with dementia must receive better support, including help for unpaid carers.

Ceri Parry, from Cardiff, said she was forced to retire early from her role as a headteacher at the age of 55 due to a lack of support for her mother, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2020.

She said: “I fully support improving early and accurate diagnosis, but this must also come with improved support and care for families afterwards. There’s five years between my relatives’ diagnoses and nothing changed. On both occasions we left with a leaflet and the unknown.

“The wait for improved diagnosis, treatment and support needs to end. Dementia must be a top priority for the next Welsh Government, for families living with it now and for those who will face it in the future.

“We also found there was no diagnosis assessment available in the Welsh language. That’s a fundamental issue if a diagnosis is to be accurate and safe for people who speak Welsh as their first language. Ignoring someone’s identity is ignoring the person.”

The survey also found that visible action would be key to restoring public confidence, with 72% calling for improved dementia services, 64% backing more funding for research, and 63% wanting better access to treatments.

Gemma Roberts, National Influencing Manager at Alzheimer’s Society Cymru, said: “Dementia is Wales’s biggest killer and one of the greatest health and social care challenges we face.

“Hope is on the horizon with new treatments and faster, more accurate diagnosis, but the system is not keeping pace. Without urgent transformation, people in Wales risk missing out.

“We are at a turning point. The next Welsh Government must deliver a bold new dementia strategy that transforms diagnosis and ensures access to quality care, treatments and support.”