Zoe wins big in Armed Forces Awards
28.06.2023
A former army regular who works supporting veterans in their healthcare journeys has won a prestigious military award.
Zoe Roberts is the armed forces covenant and veteran healthcare collaborative lead for Betsi Cadwaladr University Healthboard.
She scooped the Armed Forces Covenant prize at the Armed Forces in Wales Awards in Newport, last weekend.
Also nominated for another honour, for their work in supporting veterans accessing mental health services, was the Health Board’s VNHSW team of peer mentors.
Speaking of her win, Zoe said: “I don’t see this as a personal thing. This award recognises the work the Heath Board does in supporting veterans to make sure they get equal access to healthcare across North Wales – and for personnel who have service-related injuries or illnesses, so they are prioritised based on their clinical need for treatment.”
It was a double celebration for Zoe, who has been invited to meet Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the Right Honourable Steve Barclay, at a reception for local NHS champions, which takes place at 10 Downing Street on July 4.
Vikki is Major hit in Welsh Veterans' Awards - Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (nhs.wales)
During her career, Zoe served with 39 Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron and UK Special Forces (UKSF) Joint Communications Unit (NI) in Northern Ireland.
Zoe moved to the UK mainland to serve with the Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR) in Hereford, and from there, she moved to Shrewsbury to serve at 143 (WM) Brigade Headquarters.
Zoe completed her army career with a posting to Gosport, Hampshire, with 33 Field Hospital (Haslar).
On leaving the Army, Zoe joined the NHS in Portsmouth, where she worked in a safeguarding role aligned to the Child Death Overview Panel.
A native of Abergele, her career with the health board began in 2011, when she relocated back to North Wales and became a call handler and shift supervisor for the GP out of hours service.
Zoe then worked within the office of the central area’s medical director before becoming a workforce governance manager.
Prior to her role with the Veteran Healthcare Collaborative, she was the business and programme manager for the workforce directorate.
A chartered manager and qualified coach and mentor, she also manages to fit in being an academic tutor in her spare time.
Keep up to date with health board news by signing up to our mailing list Sign up (es-mail.co.uk)