Swansea Bay's fantastic four at sustainability awards

PICTURED: Cardiac Intensive Therapy Unit were named the winner of the Improvement and Innovation category.

Swansea Bay had four reasons to celebrate at the NHS Wales Sustainability Awards.

The Cardiac Intensive Therapy Unit, Cae Felin Community Supported Agriculture, Gwaen Cae Gurwen Dental Practice and Annie Hill were all winners of their respective categories at the event in Swansea Arena.

There was further recognition with the Peripheral Plasma Exchange Service being highly commended along with a combined Swansea Bay and Fresenius Medical Care entry.

Occupational Therapist Annie Hill was named Sustainability Champion, which is a special award that recognises an individual or team who have gone above and beyond their everyday duties to deliver a sustainability project or make lasting change.

Annie tasted success at last year’s event as part of her role in a litter-picking project that promoted Cefn Coed Hospital patients’ wellbeing by taking them into green spaces, allowing them to get active and connect with others.

PICTURED: Annie Hill won the Sustainability Champion award.

This year she gained personal success thanks to her efforts in integrating sustainability into decision making within occupational therapy, while also aiming to develop leaner care pathways and lower carbon treatment options, support population health, improve lives and save money.

Cardiac ITU came out on top in the Improvement and Innovation category.

Having already won the Sustainability in Cardiothoracic Surgery Award at the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery annual meeting in Edinburgh, the department added another accolade for its efforts in making financial and sustainable savings through monitoring the use of equipment and controlling stock levels.

Cae Felin, situated near Morriston Hospital on seven acres of land owned by the health board, has also added another award to its growing list, with the project winning the Social Value / Foundational Economy category.

It has previously won the Sustainability in Healthcare accolade at the health board’s annual One Bay Way Staff Awards along with the Innovative Development of Green Space at a Health Site Award at a Centre for Sustainable Healthcare conference.

The not-for-profit organisation is independently run but supported by the health board as part of its wider commitment to a more sustainable future, and delivers well-being, social and clinical benefits.

Gwaen Cae Gurwen Dental Practice were victorious in the Greener Primary Care award.

Having just won a gold award at the Greener Primary Care Wales Framework and Award Scheme introduced by Public Health Wales, the practice has undertaken a number of sustainable changes to become more environmentally friendly.

PICTURED: Staff involved in Cae Felin Community Supported Agriculture added to its growing reputation by topping the Social Value / Foundational Economy category.

The practice has reduced its waste, particularly of single use items, and reassessed its processes to recycling items.

Marie Davis, Executive Director of Planning & Partnerships, said: “I was really pleased to hear that Swansea Bay University Health Board had received so much recognition at the awards, with our staff winning four of the 13 categories and being highly commended in a further two.

“This is a phenomenal achievement as there were over 90 submissions from across NHS Wales.

“It truly demonstrates the commitment of our brilliant staff to deliver services that not only provide excellent quality for our patients, but also consider the wider social, economic and environmental impacts.

“Sharing such examples and learning from the wider NHS Wales will support us in centring sustainable development and ensuring the Well-Being of Future Generations Act is at the heart of our organisation.”