An award-winning team from Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust's mental health and learning disabilities services this week received a welcome visit from Welsh Assembly Health Minister Dr. Brian Gibbons last Wednesday, December 20. Earlier this year, the team from Bryngofal Ward were winners of the Welsh Assembly Government's All- Wales Mental Health Nursing Award for best in- patient initiative and the Minister was visiting the ward to see how the Protected Time Initiative project is progressing. The project was also short- listed for the Nursing Times Awards' Mental Health Award. During his visit, Dr. Gibbons talked with patients and staff about the initiative, which focuses on improving the in-patient experience for people with mental health problems by guaranteeing each patient allocated protected time to enhance and increase one-to-one contact with staff. Bryngofal Ward manager Mr. Richard Griffiths said that the initiative was enabling nurses to spend more time in therapeutic engagement, which is a vital part of the care offered to their patients. Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust chief executive, Keith Thomson, added: "The success of this initiative is due to the hard-work, innovation and commitment of Bryngofal Ward team who are to be congratulated for their contribution to the drive to modernise mental health services and recognise best practice. This initiative has resulted in vital improvements in ward operations and is now being implemented across the mental health division."