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RCN Wales Nurse of the Year named

Inspirational leader Jean Saunders praised for improving healthcare access for asylum seekers
Jean Saunders

Inspirational leader Jean Saunders praised for improving healthcare access for asylum seekers


From left, health minister Vaughan Gething; Donna Mead, chair of Velindre University NHS Trust, RCN Wales Nurse of the Year Jean Saunders, Health Access Team Coordinator Swansea Bay University Health Board; Gaynor Jones, chair of RCN Wales; Helen Whyley, RCN Wales director; RCN president Anne-Marie Rafferty; Dame Donna Kinnair, RCN general secretary

A 'passionate and dedicated' nurse who champions the rights of asylum seekers in her care has been named RCN Wales Nurse of the Year.

Jean Saunders, who is a health access team coordinator at Swansea Bay University Health Board, won the title at the RCN Wales Nurse of the Year awards in Cardiff. 

Nurse's research into services for asylum seekers changed health policy and improved care

Ms Saunders has carried out research to evaluate services for asylum seekers, and has used the findings to help influence health policy and improve services.

One asylum seeker whose life was changed Ms Saunders said: 'I ran away to find freedom, to a country I did not know and a system I did not understand. You need someone like Jean to guide and help you. Wales is my home now.'

RCN Wales director Helen Whyley said: 'Jean is a great role model for nurses and nursing in Wales.

'She exudes passion, commitment and dedication in a challenging area of practice and overcomes any challenges by thinking of alternatives to improve clients’ experience and quality of life. She is an inspiring leader to her team and all nurses.'


In other news

RCN Wales Nurse of the Year Awards 2019 winners

Advanced and specialist nursing award

Sarah Morgan All Wales Mesothelioma UK clinical nurse specialist and senior Macmillan lung cancer specialist nurse, Hywel Dda University Health Board

Chief Nursing Officer for Wales award

Deb Jackson Head of midwifery and associate director of nursing, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

Children and midwifery award

Emma Mills Clinical research midwife, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

Community nursing award

Jean Saunders Health access team coordinator, Swansea Bay University Health Board

Health care support worker award

Kevin Bressington and Nathan Harris Healthcare support workers, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

Improving individual and population health award

Christopher Hancock Programme lead, acute deterioration, 1000 Lives Improvement

Innovation in nursing award

Sara Goode Lead nurse for emergency planning, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

Lifetime achievement award

Angela Haley Senior nurse respiratory services, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

Mental health and learning disabilities award

Denise Cowdell CAMHS emergency liaison manager and Hayley Pheiffer CAMHS liaison nurse, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

Mentorship award

Andrew Brown Charge nurse, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

Nurse education award

Ruth Wyn Williams Lecturer in learning disability nursing, Bangor University

Nursing student award

Mitchell Richards Swansea University

Primary care nursing award

Alyson Lloyd-Thomas Senior primary care nurse advisor/senior practice nurse, Hywel Dda University Health Board

Registered nurse (adult) award

Lynne Hall Unit sister, Swansea Bay University Health Board

Supporting improvement through research award

Hayley Forbes Community midwife, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

Suzanne Goodall paediatric nursing award

Sophie Williams Transition nurse, Ty Hafan

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