A CARMARTHENSHIRE man who suffered a severe head injury while cycling to work says he “wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the Wales Air Ambulance.”

Twelve years ago, Roger Van Praet was on his way to volunteer at the Ffestiniog Railway’s Boston Lodge Works in Porthmadog when he was involved in a collision with a pedestrian.

Roger, a non-executive director for FUW Insurance Services Limited, recalled: “It was a dire situation. I was unconscious on the road, and thankfully, someone I work with called the emergency services.”

He was stabilised by a land ambulance crew and rushed to Ysbyty Gwynedd, where doctors discovered he had suffered brain bleeds and required specialist care. They decided his best chance of survival was urgent treatment at Royal Stoke University Hospital.

“That’s when the Wales Air Ambulance was called. I have no recollection of this,” he said. “I was told I received critical care onboard, and the clinicians and pilot ensured my safe arrival.”

He added: “The journey to Stoke takes about 25 minutes by air compared to three and a half hours by road. I will be eternally grateful to the air ambulance team for looking after me. The helicopter transfer was absolutely critical to my survival.”

Lifesaving service

The Wales Air Ambulance delivers hospital-standard treatments at the scene and, if necessary, transfers patients directly to the most appropriate hospital. The service operates through a partnership between the public and third sectors, with the charity relying on public donations to raise the £11.2 million needed annually to keep its helicopters and rapid response vehicles running.

The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) provides NHS consultants and critical care practitioners for the charity’s operations. Their advanced critical care includes administering anaesthesia, delivering blood transfusions, and performing minor operations at the scene.

As a pan-Wales service, its crews travel across the country to provide lifesaving care wherever needed.

Roger, who makes monthly donations to the charity, said: “It’s such an important cause and deserves everyone’s support. You never know when you might need it—I certainly didn’t wake up that morning expecting to require critical care.”

A life-changing accident

Roger and his wife Sian were staying in their caravan at the volunteer hostel in Porthmadog when the accident happened, just a mile from the Ffestiniog Railway engine works.

“I’d cycled the same route a dozen times with no issues. It was around 6:30 in the morning, not completely dark,” he said. “I remember cycling and approaching traffic lights near some roadworks. Once they turned green, I started off—that’s all I can recall.”

Later, he learned that roadworks had blocked the pavement, forcing a pedestrian onto the road, where they collided. “We had a glancing blow. I came off my bike headfirst and hit the road. The walker was uninjured,” he said.

Roger, a former Compliance and Operations Director at the Farmers’ Union of Wales, spent several days in ICU before regaining consciousness in acute care.

“On the surface, I looked fine—no broken bones. But when I stood up, my balance and coordination were affected. I had to relearn how to walk,” he said. “The recovery took much longer than expected.”

He did not return to work for nearly two years and had to adapt to lasting changes. “I never went back full-time and instead worked three days a week. It was a very worrying time for my family, but the Farmers’ Union of Wales was extremely supportive.”

Roger later became Managing Director of FUW Insurance Services before retiring in December 2020. He remains involved with the Union as a non-executive director.

“I was delighted when FUW President Ian Rickman announced fundraising for the Wales Air Ambulance during his presidency,” he said. “It provides essential critical care and does an incredible job, saving lives across Wales.”

Reflecting on his experience, Roger added: “I’d always wanted to ride in a helicopter—it’s just a shame that when I finally did, I have no memory of it.”

THE PAUL SARTORI FOUNDATION, Pembrokeshire’s hospice-at-home charity, has received a donation of £2,336 from Tenby Round Table, funding the purchase of two specialised Minuet 2 hospital-style beds to enhance patient comfort at home.

Representatives from the Tenby Round Table visited Paul Sartori House on Tuesday (Mar 4) to meet the team and see how their donation is making a difference. The charity’s Equipment Loan Team demonstrated the new beds, highlighting their benefits for end-of-life patients wishing to spend their final days at home.

Amanda Elmes, Equipment Assistant, and Mark Bunyan, Equipment Technician, explained how the beds provide essential support, with families expressing deep gratitude for their availability, even if used for just a short period.

Will Davies, Chairman of Tenby Round Table, said: “The decision to donate was unanimous because we all strongly believe in the invaluable service Paul Sartori provides to families in need.”

Joost Geertman, past president of Tenby Round Table, shared a personal connection, having recently accessed the charity’s services for a family member. He said: “It’s heartening to see how Paul Sartori supports people at the most critical times of their lives. I know firsthand the difference it makes to families locally.”

The Paul Sartori Equipment Loan Service plays a crucial role in supporting end-of-life patients across Pembrokeshire. In 2023/24, the team delivered over 1,700 items of equipment—an average of 32 per week—including beds, wheelchairs, commodes, chairs, and mattresses, all provided at no cost.

Pat Coombs, Clinical Coordinator and Equipment Facilitator, emphasised the importance of donations in sustaining their work. She said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Tenby Round Table. We rely heavily on donations and grants to continue complementing statutory services. Beds are among the most important items we loan, offering comfort and support when it is most needed.”

The Paul Sartori Foundation provides a range of services beyond equipment loans, including home nursing care, complementary therapy, bereavement and counselling support, physiotherapy, advance care planning, and training. The charity also operates a 24-hour advice line, available seven days a week, with a standby service for those not yet requiring hands-on care.

AS PART of Social Work Week, we are celebrating the work of professionals at NSPCC Cymru who work closely with children to keep them safe from harm and neglect.

Staff and volunteers come from a wide range of experience and have often worked in challenging and demanding roles before joining the organisation.

Once such area is social work and the skills and knowledge of this discipline are key to the work of our Children’s Services Practitioners (CSPs).

While people often shy away from talking about child abuse, the reality is that half a million children experience abuse every year. We need to talk about it, and the CSP team at NSPCC Cymru is here to help prevent it happening. We are here to support children and their families when it has happened, to reduce stigma and shame and help promote recovery.

Sophie Dowle is a Children’s Services Practitioner (CSP) based in Cardiff and explains what brought her to NSPCC Cymru a year ago and the vital work her team does.

Sophie said, “I qualified as a social worker in 2018 and worked in Child Protection and Counter Exploitation teams in a local authority children’s services department prior to joining the NSPCC.

“At NSPCC Cymru we work on a range of direct initiatives including a therapeutic service for children and their families and carers following sexual abuse.

“We deliver a service called Pregnancy in Mind which helps expectant parents with or at risk of mild to moderate anxiety or depression, and we are about to deliver a perinatal service that supports vulnerable parents, developing their confidence in parenting and meeting the needs of their baby.”

There are some differences between the kinds of social work support our Children’s Services Practitioners provide and the traditional roles associated with local authority social workers.

Sophie continues, “Local Authority social workers tend to deal with safeguarding risks in the here and now with overall responsibility for the plan of care and support a child needs.

“We do not deliver statutory services and crisis intervention. Our direct services practitioners offer support to prevent the harm in the first place, or support recovery once a child is safe.

“By working with other agencies and partners to help care and support children, we are afforded the time and a reduced case load to work intensively and creatively with young people and their families.

“It was the opportunity to develop my therapeutic skills, and hearing about the Letting the Future In service, which delivers therapeutic work following sexual abuse, that motivated me to join NSPCC Cymru.”

The skills needed for this demanding role include general child-centred social work skills, empathy, good communication, listening and analytical skills as well as creativity and decision-making skills.  Sophie says she appreciates the support and training the organisation provides.

She added, “I love the time and creativity I am given to work with children and their families. The work is very rewarding. I have worked with so many wonderful young people and have learnt things from them all. It is a privilege to be a part of their journey.

“In Social Work Week it’s important to spread the message about the vital role social work plays in safeguarding and supporting people and an opportunity to promote the work our Children’s Services Practitioners do at NSPCC Cymru to keep children and young people safe.”

NSPCC Cymru’s Direct Services team manager, Jess Hiscock said; “We value the diverse experiences and knowledge our practitioners bring to the role. Sophie and her practitioner colleagues’ passion and commitment to ensuring babies, children, young people and their families are supported and safe contributes to so many improved outcomes for those with whom we work.”

To find out more about Social Care Week visit Social Work Week 2025 | Social Care Wales

For more about the NSPCC’s services visit NSPCC | The UK children’s charity | NSPCC