Wrexham mental health ward lands first gold accreditation award

A Wrexham Maelor Hospital team which supports older adults with mental health problems has become the first in North Wales to receive a top health award.

Staff on Hydref Ward at the hospital’s Heddfan Psychiatric Unit have been awarded Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s Gold Accreditation for providing the highest standards of care.

The 13-bed ward was assessed against a range of nationally recognised quality measures, with nurse leaders praising the exemplary standards of care provided by the team’s multidisciplinary staff.

Launched in November 2018, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s ward accreditation programme assesses wards and units across the region on a range of quality measures.

Wards which demonstrate excellent care are awarded a bronze, silver or gold award following an in depth assessment by nursing leaders.

Hydref Ward is the first in North Wales to be awarded the gold accreditation. The ward provides support for older adults living with a range of mental health conditions, including bipolar disorder, severe depression, personality disorders and schizophrenia.

Gill Harris, BCUHB’s Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery, said: “The staff on Hydref Ward are a real credit to the Health Board and I’m very proud of the high standards of care they deliver, and the positive impact this has on patients and their loved ones.

“The accreditation scheme is about celebrating and recognising where excellent quality care is being delivered, and learning how we can do more to support frontline staff.

“The scheme has played an important role in helping us better understand the challenges our staff face, and look at how we can support them to provide better care.”

Rachel Turner, Ward Manager on Hydref Ward, said: “We were obviously delighted to be the first recipients of a gold award. We want our ward to be the best it can for our patients and everyone who visits the ward, and this award really demonstrates the hard work we have put in.

“Everyone has contributed to us achieving this - our students, housekeepers, registered nurses, our activity coordinators and healthcare support workers, it’s been a real team approach and I want to thank everybody for their hard work.”