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Child health nurse wins RCN Wales nurse of the year award

Sian Thomas won the prestigious RCN Wales nurse of the year award for ensuring a child with complex needs could be educated in a mainstream school.

A consultant nurse has been named RCN Wales’ nurse of the year for her leadership which helped a child with complex needs to attend a mainstream school

Sian Thomas and team after winning their award
Sian Thomas (middle) being presented with her accolade at the 2016 RCN Wales' awards.
Picture: Stuart Fisher

Sian Thomas, who works at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, was named the 2016 nurse of the year during a ceremony at City Hall, Cardiff last night. 

The fifth annual RCN in Wales nurse of the year awards ceremony saw nurses recognised in 17 categories. 

Ms Thomas led a multi-agency team which responded to a request by a parent for her daughter to attend a mainstream school. The pupil needed to be fed with a special blended diet through a gastrostomy. 

Ms Thomas ensured the request was safely met and the girl’s quality of life improved. 

Commendations

Attendees at the ceremony, hosted by television and radio presenters Jason Mohammad and Andrea Byrne, heard how the nurse’s dedication led to improvements for the child. These included in physical growth and cognitive, physical and social development.  

Ms Thomas was commended for her ‘exceptional leadership’ in promoting the public health agenda. 

She was presented the award by first minister of Wales Carwyn Jones alongside RCN president Cecilia Anim, RCN Wales director Tina Donnelly, RCN Wales board chair Gaynor Jones and Steve Ham, chief executive of Velindre NHS Trust, which sponsored the award.

Ms Thomas said: ‘I feel extreme pride both professionally and personally. 

Sian Thomas
Consultant nurse Sian Thomas has been named as Wales' nurse of the year. Picture: Jay Williams

‘Being awarded this title enables the sharing of knowledge and experience about our initiative and to support other nurses in their practice.’ 

Mr Jones said: ‘By going the extra mile [Ms Thomas] has made a real difference to the lives of many children in Wales, helping them to overcome the barriers they face and achieve their full potential. 

‘Everyone involved in our health service has an invaluable role to play, but nurses truly are on the front line.’

Other winners included Jeffrey Davies, a clinics manager at Aneurin Bevan, won the mental health and learning disabilities award while Hywel Dda University Health Board school nurse Jacqueline Jones took home the community nursing award. 

Aneurin Bevan consultant nurse in continence care Karen Logan - who was named Nurse of the Year at the Nursing Standard Nurse Awards 2008 - received a lifetime achievement award.

List of winners

Wales Nurse of the Year Award

Sponsored by Velindre NHS Trust

Winner: Sian Thomas
Consultant nurse (child health) Aneurin Bevan University Health Board


Lifetime achievement award

Sponsored by Cwm Taf University Health Board

Winner: Karen Logan
Consultant nurse in continence care, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board


Humanitarian nursing award

Sponsored by University of South Wales

Joint winner: Donna Hornby
Practice nurse, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

Joint winner: Sharron Price
Lead nurse, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board


Nursing student award

Sponsored by NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership

Winner: Stephanie Morris
Student nurse, Bangor University

Runner-up: Luke Pybus
Student nurse, university of South Wales


Health care support worker award

Sponsored by The Open University Wales

Winner: Mike Mallett, specialist needle and pharmacy exchange coordinator, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

Runner-up: Leanne Adamson
Health care support worker, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board


Clinical nurse specialist award

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board  

Winner: Jane James
Tissue viability clinical nurse specialist, Hywel Dda University Health Board

Runner-up: Gaynor Harrison
Lead diabetes specialist nurse, Cwm Taf University Health Board


Mental health and learning disabilities award

Sponsored by Aneurin University Bevan Health Board

Winner: Jeffrey Davies
Clinics manager, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

Runner-up: Margaret Meleady
Clinical lead therapeutic day services, Hywel Dda University Health Board


Children and midwifery award

Sponsored by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

Winner: Sian Thomas
Consultant nurse (child health), Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

Runner-up: Jennifer Walsh
Tissue viability clinical nurse specialist, Hywel Dda University Health Board


Chief Nursing Officer for Wales Award

Sponsored by Chief Nursing Officer for Wales, Welsh Government

Winner: Tom Grace
Senior nurse/head deprivation of liberty safeguards, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

Runner-up: Melanie Davies
Ward sister, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board


Registered nurse (adult) award

Sponsored by Powys teaching Health Board

Winner: Linzi Shone
Ward sister, Hywel Dda University Health Board

Runner-up: Michelle Cooper
Ward manager,  Aneurin Bevan University Health Board


Innovation in Nursing Award

Sponsored by Frontier Medical Group

Winner: Anna Sussex
Frequent attenders case load manager, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board  

Runner-up: Sian Elizabeth Ashford
Senior clinical contact centre clinician, Welsh Ambulance Services Trust


Community Nursing Award

Sponsored by Hywel Dda University Health Board  

Winner: Jacqueline Jones
School nurse, Hywel Dda University Health Board

Joint runners-up: Michelle Donovan
Nurse practitioner, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

Joint runners-up: Joanne Williams
Health care support worker, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board


Older people’s commissioner for Wales award

Sponsored by the older people’s commissioner for Wales

Winner: Lucie Williams
Senior nurse, Cwm Taf University Health Board

Runner-up: Ceri Thomas
Lead advanced nurse practitioner, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board


Nurse education award

Sponsored by Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board

Winner: Tracy Ross
Senior lecturer, Glyndwr University

Runner-up: Dr. Sally Anstey
Senior lecturer, Cardiff University


Research in nursing award

Sponsored by Cardiff University

Winner: Simon Cassidy
Practice education facilitator, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board

Join runners-up: Sarah Jones
Senior research nurse, Hywel Dda University Health Board

Join runners-up: Dr. Helen Trench
Research nurse, Hywel Dda University Health Board


Improving Individual and Population Health Award

Sponsored by Public Health Wales

Winner: Janine Roderick
Policy lead for public health and policing in Wales, Public Health Wales

Runner-up: Marianne Seabright
Specialist practitioner victims services, Aneurin Bevan


Mentorship Award

Sponsored by University of South Wales and Cwm Taf University Health Board

Winner: Ffion Pursglove
Staff nurse, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

Runner-up: Mark Smart
Midwife, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

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