26 September 2025
Hywel Dda University Health Board (UHB) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday 25 September 2025, reflecting on the challenges and achievements of the past year and celebrating the dedication of its staff through the Hywel’s Applause awards.
During the AGM, the Board formally signed off its 2024/25 Annual Report, which outlines the organisation’s performance, financial position, and progress against strategic priorities. The report is available to view here https://hduhb.nhs.wales/about-us/performance-targets/our-performance-areas/annual-reports (opens in new tab)
Attendees also had the opportunity to watch the Year in Review video, which celebrates the work and dedication of over 13,000 staff, volunteers, students and apprentices.
Dr Neil Wooding, Chair of Hywel Dda UHB, said: "Throughout 2024 and 2025, we continued to review and identify areas for improvement to ensure we can provide safe services for our patients and meet our duty of quality.
“Our AGM is a moment to reflect on the progress we’ve made and the challenges we’ve faced together as a health board.
"It’s also a time to recognise the incredible people who make our services possible. Our Hywel’s Applause awards are a powerful reminder of the compassion, skill and commitment shown by our staff every day.
“We are proud of their achievements and grateful for their continued dedication to the communities we serve."
The AGM was followed by the Hywel’s Applause staff awards, a celebration of the individuals and teams who go above and beyond to make a difference to patients, colleagues, and communities across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, and Pembrokeshire.
This year’s awards recognised excellence across a range of categories, including clinical care, innovation, leadership, and partnership working. The winners were chosen from a record number of nominations submitted by colleagues and members of the public.
The 2025 Hywel’s Applause winners are:
- Living Our Values: Gayle Evans, Occupational Therapy Support Worker, Prince Philip Hospital for her compassionate and creative approach that has enriched patient lives, lifts team morale, and consistently going above and beyond expectations.
- Rising Star: Dr Hannah Jenkins, Principal Clinical Psychologist, Prince Philip Hospital for her infectious ‘can-do’ attitude and commitment to creating sustainable improvements while helping colleagues grow and develop.
- Best Use of Welsh Language: Sian Davies, Registered Nurse, for her passionate advocacy of the Welsh language, inspiring colleagues and patients, and creating a bilingual environment that empowers everyone to take part.
- Growing Together: Maternity Practice Development Team, for their work embedding learning, innovation and reflective practice into everyday care, leading to a confident and future-ready maternity workforce.
- Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging: Clare Pound, Data Standards Manager, Digital Services for transforming how we identify and support vulnerable patients through simple but powerful system changes that deliver lasting impact.
- Compassionate Colleague: Rebecca McDonald, Clinical Nurse Specialist Paediatric Palliative Care, Children's Community Nursing Service for her exceptional kindness and empathy, creating a safe and supportive environment where families and colleagues feel valued, heard and uplifted when they need it most.
- Patient Voice: Ceredigion Community Nursing Team for their extraordinary compassion and dedication, giving a family the gift of peace and dignity by making their loved one's final wish possible.
- Excellence in Wellbeing: Claire Williams, Workforce Advisor, Workforce and Organisational Development Team for her dedication to staff wellbeing, creating practical activities, and thoughtful initiatives that make every day working life healthier and more connected.
- Unsung Hero: Claire Dawes, Critical Care Outreach Team Leader, Withybush Hospital for her determination and leadership in building the critical care outreach service, empowering staff with the skills and confidence to deliver safe, high-quality care.
- Innovation and Excellence: Mr Alan Treharne, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Bronglais Hospital for his innovative one-stop women's health clinic, transforming access to care by reducing waits, improving outcomes and setting a new standard for equitable healthcare.
- Lifetime Achievement: Sue Beach, Lead Clinical Development Pharmacist, Glangwili Hospital for her decades of outstanding leadership and mentorship in pharmacy, shaping safe practice, guiding innovation and inspiring generations of pharmacists to thrive.
Lisa Gostling, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Workforce and Organisation Development at Hywel Dda UHB, said: “Hywel’s Applause is a chance to shine a light on the incredible work happening every day across our health board. It’s a privilege to celebrate the compassion, innovation, and resilience of our staff, and to say thank you for everything they do.
“Thank you to all our colleagues who nominated, and congratulations to this year’s nominees, highly commended colleagues and our winners.”