A HOME DIALYSIS developed by Anglesey County Council, in partnership with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board Charity, has again been nominated for a national award.
Llinos Williams and Branwen Ainscough, from Housing Services, have been nominated alongside Sarah Hirst-Williams from Betsi Cadwaladr as part of the Chartered Institute of Housing’s Welsh Housing Awards 2024.
The scheme has been nominated under the excellence in health and wellbeing category, a category that recognises organisations that have demonstrated excellence in their approach to the health and wellbeing of tenants over the past year.
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 dialysis patients living on Anglesey.
Working together they have produced an innovative ‘pathway to home dialysis’ for patients living in social housing. Their proactive efforts and work have enabled patients suffering from kidney failure with the opportunity to utilise a home dialysis service that would have not been possible otherwise.
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 yet another prestigious national 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.”
As the first of its kind in United Kingdom, this specific healthcare model allows individuals that require kidney dialysis to remain at home. The pioneering model breaks down barriers and promotes an inclusive and supportive healthcare environment.
Anglesey Council Finance and Housing portfolio holder, and deputy leader, Councillor Robin Williams, added: “As a council, we are proud to be supporting Anglesey’s home-based dialysis patients.
“I congratulate everyone involved with the scheme for being nominated in the Chartered Institute of Housing’s Welsh Housing Awards 2024.
“This is the second award nomination this year for the team following their nomination in the St David’s Awards in April, which clearly underlines the importance and the effectiveness the scheme has.”
“Being able to receive treatment from home ensures patients are comfortable and do not have to visit their local hospital on a weekly basis.
The Welsh Housing Awards provides an opportunity for teams across the country to come together to recognise the creativity, passion and innovation of individuals, organisations and projects that have helped tenants, customers and communities.
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.cih.org/news/welsh-housing-awards-2024-shortlist-announced/
