Child health nurse wins RCN Wales nurse of the year award
Posted 17 November 2016
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
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.
‘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