In a ceremony held at Pembrokeshire College, Wards 11 and 12 at Withybush Hospital won an award for their work promoting the Welsh language. This has included implementing the More Than Just Words framework, which aims to improve services for those who need or choose to receive their care in Welsh, through the use of magnets to identify Welsh speaking patients. Using these magnets enables staff to provide the ’active offer’ reminding all staff that they have a responsibility to recognise and accept responsibility to respond to language need as an integral element of care.

Wards 11 and 12 staff also held a successful St. David’s Day event to welcome new overseas doctors to the area and to introduce them to the Welsh culture. Together with the UHB’s Welsh language services team, they provided a taster session for all staff to learn some Welsh in order to speak to patients.

Enfys Williams, Welsh language services manager, said: “We’re very proud as a Health Board to have had an opportunity to sponsor a category for the first time at the Pembrokeshire Shwmae Awards this year and for our fantastic teams in Wards 11 and 12 to have won!

“We’re very proud of the work that Wards 11 and 12 do for the Welsh language. They’re extremely enthusiastic, and are willing to develop procedures in order to improve the Welsh provision for patients. Very often, the patients on their wards suffer from Dementia, or have suffered a stroke; therefore it’s vitally important that they receive care in their language choice. The staff here are an example to all across Wales.

“My congratulations also go to Geoffrey Eynon, Withybush Hospital chaplain, and Dawn Thomas, play specialist, who were also shortlisted for their fantastic work and dedication to the Welsh language.”