The valuable work of Pembrokeshire nurses in ensuring better patient care is being spotlighted at an event to be held at Withybush Hospital this week. In celebration of National Nurses Day, Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust is inviting members of the public to attend a poster display highlighting innovative work carried out by local nurses that are making a real difference to healthcare in the county. Said Head of Nursing and Quality Mrs. Chris Hayes: "Nursing staff across the Trust are continuously involved in creating and leading improved ways of working that the general public may not even be aware of. All this hard work brings about real improvements and benefits for patients. This display is an opportunity for local people to find out more about this work and the changes being brought about by local nurses." National Nurses Day is an international event aimed at celebrating the nursing profession and spotlighting the vital role individual nurses play in improving and promoting healthcare. Around 20 examples of healthcare improvements brought about by local nurses will be featured in the Withybush Hospital display including: • Pembrokeshire's nurse-led clinics in stroke, chronic pain, rheumotology, gastroenterology, diabetes and continence care. These nurses are trained to assess, test, diagnose and make ongoing decisions about treatment and care, a role traditionally undertaken by consultants or GPs. This gives quicker access to services and ensures continuous care through a single person. • Three Pembrokeshire nurses are currently being trained to become Independent Nurse Prescribers able to prescribe more widely and independently of doctors. This will also help to speed up patient care. Currently, local Specialist Nurse Practitioners are only able to prescribe for common ailments in partnership with medical colleagues. • Two Pembrokeshire Nurses, namely a British Heart Foundation Cardiac Liaison Nurse and Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurse, work closely with staff at Withybush Hospital's Coronary Care Unit to ensure long term management of heart attacks and heart surgery patients, both in hospital and at home, through their Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme and the Pembrokeshire Community Healthy Heart Programme. • A rheumotology nurse-led initiative is currently involving patients in the selection process for new doctors responsible for their own long-term care of chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. This will help to ensure improved care through better patient/doctor relationships. Further details about these innovative local initiatives, and many others, can be viewed at the public display in Withybush Hospital's main entrance corridor between May 9 and 16. Said Mrs. Hayes: "We would like as many people as possible to visit the display to find out first-hand what a real difference these nurse-led healthcare initiatives are making to real patients in Pembrokeshire. I think everyone will conclude that we all have a lot to thank them for."