A home dialysis scheme developed by Anglesey County Council, in partnership with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board Charity, has been nominated for a national award.

Llinos Williams and Branwen Ainscough, from Housing Services, have been nominated alongside Sarah Hirst-Williams from Betsi Cadwaladr for a 2024 St David’s award in the critical worker category.

The award acknowledges an individual, team or group in Wales working in health and social care, the third sector, the emergency services, local government, education, or childcare who have gone the extra mile to provide an exceptional service to the people of Wales.

Llinos, Branwen and Sarah have been instrumental in the innovative and collaborative work between the local authority and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

Their partnership work across health and social care has had a huge benefit to kidney dialysis patients living on Anglesey.

Working together they have produced an innovative ‘pathway to Home Dialysis’ for patients living in social housing. The work they are undertaking is ground-breaking and proactive, enabling patients living with kidney failure to be able to access a home dialysis service, which would have otherwise been impossible for them to attain.

Anglesey’s Head of Housing Services, Ned Michael, said: “I am extremely proud of Llinos, Branwen and the team, I congratulate them and Sarah for being nominated for this prestigious award.”

He added, “We work closely with our local renal team at Ysbyty Gwynedd to ensure patients with chronic kidney disease and those in kidney failure have access to suitable accommodation to meet their long-term needs within our communities. This scheme has enabled residents to have a better quality of life, allowing them to remain at home and continue with work and their daily lives.”

This model of prudent healthcare is the first of its kind in Wales and a good example of breaking down the barriers of inequality of healthcare and allows people to stay at home whilst living with a chronic health condition.

Council leader, Councillor Llinos Medi, added, “As a council, we are proud to be supporting Anglesey’s home-based dialysis patients. I congratulate Llinos, Branwen, Sarah and everyone involved within this fantastic scheme for being nominated for a St David’s Award.”

“Being able to dialyse from home ensures patients are comfortable and do not have to visit their local hospital on a weekly basis. The funding secured by the county council will also mean that dialysis patients can get treatment at home without having to worry about utility bills.”

The St David Awards are the national awards of Wales and are nominated for by the public.

Sarah Hirst-Williams, Home Dialysis Manager at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said: “We have always felt honoured to be part of the dialysis patient’s journey, taking them home to have their treatment within their family environment.

The social housing pathway has enabled dialysis patients within local authority housing to have health care at their point of need while giving them the ability to be fully integrated into their family life and continue with a healthy work-life balance.”

More information about the awards can be found here: https://www.gov.wales/st-david-awards

Ends 27 February 2024

Notes to editors

The County Council secured £580,000 to deliver the Discretionary Cost of Living Support Scheme on behalf of the Welsh Government. Part of this funding will be used to support local home dialysis patients.

The funding, provided a payment of up to £500 per household, where there is a patient living on home dialysis due to kidney failure.