Hywel dda celebrates win at the NHS Wales Sustainability Awards
30 June 2025
Transforming the respiratory care of primary school children in Pembrokeshire has been nationally awarded at the prestigious 2025 NHS Wales Sustainability Awards held at Swansea Arena on 20 June 2025.
In their second year, these awards recognise that delivering sustainable healthcare has never been more important. They celebrate the excellence of those driving real change to reduce environmental impact while improving patient care across the NHS in Wales.
Hywel Dda University Health Board (UHB) would like to congratulate North and South Pembrokeshire Clusters who were winners in the Prevention in Healthcare category for their project ‘Lessons in Asthma- improving the management of respiratory conditions in primary school children.’
This initiative delivers structured asthma reviews directly in schools, empowering children, parents, and staff with the tools to manage asthma more effectively. The project has resulted in improved asthma control and reduced emergency care visits; greener prescribing practices; and a reduction in travel-related carbon emissions.
It also supports the Welsh Government’s A Healthier Wales vision and exemplifies Hywel Dda’s commitment to sustainable, community-based healthcare.
Dr Helen Wang, South Pembrokeshire Cluster Lead and GP Collaboration Lead, said, “We are deeply honoured to receive the NHS Sustainability Award for Prevention in Healthcare.
“The Asthma in School project has been a powerful example of delivering healthcare closer to the patient, particularly children by reaching them in their own learning environments.
“This initiative has highlighted the critical role that education plays in asthma care, and how empowering children and their families to understand and manage the condition can lead to real, lasting improvements in health outcomes.
“We are proud to have involved all 52 schools across Pembrokeshire in this project. The feedback we’ve received has been overwhelmingly positive, with many touching stories shared by children and families about the difference this has made in their lives.
“As part of our wider South Pembrokeshire strategy, we remain firmly committed to patient-centred care. This award reinforces our motivation to continue delivering holistic, proactive, and empowering approaches to managing long-term conditions.”
Jill Paterson, Director of Primary Care, Community and Long-Term Care at Hywel Dda UHB, congratulated the team, “We are incredibly proud of the North and South Pembrokeshire Clusters for their well-deserved recognition at the NHS Wales Sustainability Awards.
“This project is a shining example of how we can deliver high-quality, patient-centred care while also protecting our environment. Their work is not only improving lives today but helping to build a healthier, more sustainable future for generations to come.”
This achievement reflects the health board’s commitment to NHS Wales’ ambition of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030. In 2022, the Board approved its Decarbonisation Delivery Plan, committing the organisation to reducing its carbon footprint over eight years. By encouraging innovation and integrating sustainable practices, this will reduce the environmental impact of providing healthcare, while improving health outcomes for our communities.
END