The awards ceremony is a highlight of the year for mental health and learning disability nurses, many of whom have said that the annual awards clearly demonstrate that the Welsh Assembly Government values the contribution that is being made by nurses to mental health and learning disability care across Wales.
The nominations for the awards are considered by a panel of independent judges that include service users, carers and senior mental health and learning disability nurses from across the UK.
Photo: Best Healthcare Assistants - Activity Co-ordinators, Caswell Clinic, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University - (L-R) presented by Edwina Hart AM, collected by Janette Duggan and Craig Thomas
Nominations for the awards, across nine categories, have more than doubled since the inauguration of the initiative by the Welsh Assembly Government in 2005.
Presenting the awards at the All Nations Centre in Cardiff, Health Minister Edwina Hart said:
“So often the hard work of mental health and learning disability nurses is overlooked. Nurses in Wales have a fundamental role to play in our health and social services. These awards provide a chance to showcase the excellent work that nurses are undertaking in Wales, and to publicly recognise and reward their considerable achievements.”
The Chief Nursing Officer for Wales, Rosemary Kennedy, said:
“Mental health and learning disability nurses provide valuable help and support to some of the most vulnerable people in society. These awards demonstrate the innovative work that is going on across Wales to continually improve patient care. I would like to congratulate not only today’s winners but all those that were nominated for an award this year.”
Dr Ed Roberts, Vice Chair of Abertawe Bro Morgannwg Health Board, said:
“I was present at the Awards Ceremony when it was announced that the Activity Co-ordinators at Caswell Clinic had won the Best Healthcare Assistants category. The high standards and achievements being set by staff in Mental Health and Learning Disabilities in ABM and across Wales were very apparent, and our Healthcare assistants should be justifiably proud of their success. We as a Board value, recognise, and applaud their work and commitment and add our congratulations to those they received at the awards ceremony.”
Wales is the only country in Europe to have a national awards initiative specifically aimed at mental health and learning disability nursing.