New consultant in palliative medicine, Dr. Annette Edwards (MbChB, MRCGP, FRCP), has been welcomed into her new post at Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest.

Having joined Hywel Dda University Health Board in February, Dr. Edwards works as part of the team at the Haverfordwest hospital helping to provide high quality palliative care to patients in Pembrokeshire.

Initially trained in general practice, Dr. Edwards undertook specialist training in palliative medicine and has held consultant posts in Mid Yorkshire and Leeds. She developed community services and outreach clinics in the west of Leeds and became joint director with the neurologist for the newly formed Leeds MND Care Centre enabling multi-disciplinary working to provide more individualised care. She also represented palliative care in the development of the NICE guideline entitled ‘The Assessment and Management of Patients with Motor Neurone Disease’ which was published in February 2016.

Dr. Edwards said: “As well as being a really beautiful part of Wales, I was heartened and impressed by the warm welcome I had when I joined the University Health Board. The staff are incredibly friendly which has really helped me settle in to the area and the job.”

When asked about why she chose to come and work in Pembrokeshire, Dr Edwards added: “I worked for over 10 years in the busy city of Leeds and so when the opportunity came to work in a very different setting, I was excited by its potential and applied for the role.

“The team are really open to sharing new ideas about how we can make local services even better for our patients and so I am confident the experience I have gained over the years will help us to build on the excellent work already being undertaken by the local team here.

“I am very happy with my choice to come and work here and I would definitely encourage others elsewhere who may be thinking about a change in jobs, to come and find out what west Wales has to offer.”

Dr Iain Robertson-Steel, hospital director at Withybush and county director and commissioner for Pembrokeshire, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Dr. Edwards to Pembrokeshire. Her wealth of knowledge and experience will help to lead the development of the specialist palliative care service in the hospital and in the community, providing a more comprehensive and united service for our local population.”