Wrexham critical care nurses win top award for work supporting bereaved families

A team of nurses who help bereaved relatives come to terms with the loss of a loved one have won a top health award.

Staff from Wrexham Maelor Hospital’s Critical Care Unit were named the winners of the ‘Team of the Year Award’ at a glittering gala evening at Venue Cymru to mark the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board Achievement Awards 2019.

The awards, which were sponsored by Centerprise International, celebrate the outstanding achievements of NHS staff from across the region.

Wrexham Maelor Hospital’s Critical Care Bereavement and Follow Up Team were recognised for providing a range of support to former critical care patients and bereaved families.

This includes weekly clinics which provide support to bereaved relatives as well as help for former patients who are coming to the terms with the often ‘life changing’ long term physical and psychological impacts which can follow a critical illness.

Memory boxes have also been introduced to provide support and comfort for the families of patients who have passed away in critical care.

More recently, the team have established a critical care support group, which has attracted ‘amazing feedback’ from patients and relatives.

The team were nominated for the award by Critical Care Unit sister, Natasha Corcoran.

“Being a patient or the relative of a patient in critical care is a life changing experience,” she said.

“Patients can experience long term physical and psychological problems following critical illness.

“I feel hugely proud and inspired by the team who are constantly trying to improve the service they provide, which itself is an extension of what is already an extremely challenging role.”

Jo-Anne Garvie, commercial director at Secure IT Environments Limited, who sponsored the Team of the Year award, added: “We were very proud to support this award which has provided fitting recognition for an outstanding team of NHS Wales staff at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in the Critical Care Bereavement Team, who go above and beyond the call of duty to support patients and families during their hour of need.