Improving Patient Care - NHS Wales Awards 2012 Finalists Announced

Seven health boards and two NHS Trusts have made the shortlist for this year’s awards with new and creative projects that have transformed healthcare services.

Aneurin Bevan Health Board lead the way with six projects in the finals and Powys Health Board has also been shortlisted four times.

Shortlisted work includes the development of an autism guide for parents, safer care and insertion of catheters, and the creation of a new weight management programme for obese patients.

National Leadership and Innovation Agency for Healthcare (NLIAH) Director Dr Alan Willson, who leads the NHS Wales Awards, said that the standard of entries demonstrates world class ambitions and achievements.

He said, “Every year the standard and number of entries to the NHS Wales Awards shows just how much creative and inspirational work is being delivered to improve patient care across Wales.

“The aim of the Awards is to uncover, recognise and celebrate this good practice and to ensure it is shared across NHS Wales so it can improve services.

“This is a national showcase for innovation and excellence and I would like to thank everyone who entered and wish good luck to all those who have made the finals.”

The winners of the NHS Wales Awards 2012 will be announced in a ceremony at the Swalec Stadium in Cardiff on July 4.

This year more than 120 entries were received and the judging panel of NHS experts had the tough task of selecting the following finalists in the seven award categories;

Citizens At The Centre Of Service Re-Design And Delivery

• ‘Autism: A guide for parents and carers following diagnosis’ – Cwm Taf Health Board

• ‘Promoting best practice and meaningful service user participation in health professional training’ –Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

• ‘Community Huntingtons Disease Service’ – Aneurin Bevan Health Board

Developing A Flexible And Sustainable Workforce

• ‘Competence Based Credit Pathway’ – Powys Health Board

• ‘Embracing the strengths of non medical prescribers in an oncology setting’ – Velindre NHS Trust

• ‘Pre-Employment Course’ – Cwm Taf Health Board

Improving Patient Safety

• ‘Use of the National Early Warning System in a Community Hospital setting’ – Powys Health Board

• ‘Enhanced Recovery after Colorectal surgery’ – Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

• ‘Introducing safe care and best practice for insertion and maintenance of peripheral venous cannulas’ – Aneurin Bevan Health Board

Improving Quality Through Better Use Of Resources

• ‘Improving the physical and psychological health of intensive care unit survivors’ – ABM University Health Board

• ‘I want to go home: Respecting patients’ rights to die in their preferred location’- Aneurin Bevan Health Board
• ‘Urinary catheter care bundles: if in doubt, get them out!’ – Aneurin Bevan Health Board

Promoting Better Health And Avoiding Disease

• ‘Rural community pharmacy Smoking Cessation Programme’ – Powys Health Board

• ‘Bridgend Locality Community Weight Management Programme’ – Public Health Wales, Cwm Garw Practice and ABM University Health Board

• ‘High risk multi-disciplinary Diabetic foot clinic’ – Hywel Dda Health Board

Promoting Clinical Research and Application to Practice

• ‘Improvement in action: Nurturing innovation to transform healthcare’ – Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

• ‘Involving services users – Retelling our lives’ – Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

Working Seamlessly Across Organisations

• ‘Strategy for introducing Incredible Years programme to boost childrens’ start in life’ – Powys Health Board, Powys Children and Young People’s Partnership and Barnardo’s Cymru

• ‘Sustainable and seamless complex care occupational therapy in a community setting’ – Aneurin Bevan Health Board

• ‘Integrated seamless mental health and social care service’ – Aneurin Bevan Health Board


The NHS Wales Awards were launched in 2008 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the NHS.

The Awards are jointly organised by the National Leadership and Innovation Agency for Healthcare (NLIAH) and the Welsh Government.

The next stage is for the judging panels to visit each shortlisted project to find out more and see first-hand the benefits they’ve brought to patients.

Each judging panel is made up of experts drawn from across NHS Wales, the public sector and professional bodies.

The winners of the seven NHS Wales Awards 2012 will be announced in a ceremony at the Swalec Stadium, Cardiff on Wednesday, July 4, 2012.