Aneurin Bevan Research Team Lead shortlisted for Nurse of the Year awards

Senior Team Lead for Research Delivery at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Anna Roynon, was shortlisted for the Supporting Improvement Through Research award at the Royal College of Nursing in Wales’ Nurse of the Year awards, an event which celebrates nursing excellence across the country.

The pandemic called for a new approach for delivering research within the Health Board and Anna drove changes to make sure this was successful. She introduced the opportunity for patients to take part in studies on the weekend, supported clinicians to deliver complex and ever-changing studies and made sure she was always available out of hours to any of the hospitals in the Health Board.

As a result of her commitment to research, Anna created an environment where more COVID-19 patients could take part in trials which are vital in the fight against the virus.

Anna, who had been in her role for six months as Senior Team Lead for Research Delivery, when the pandemic hit, said: “I’d never been in a management role before so it was kind of a ‘baptism by fire’ and the last 20 months have been difficult for us all.

“My main driver throughout the pandemic was to give everybody who had COVID-19 the opportunity to take part in potentially life-saving research. We had some units in the Health Board which were doing lots of research, and others who weren’t doing any, I wanted equal opportunities for all patients to help us find the best COVID-19 treatments and care.”

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board was the first in Wales to run a COVID-19 vaccine trial, and Anna played a critical role in the vital Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine study setting up and managing the process participants would go through if they got COVID-19 whilst on the trial.

Anna continued: “It was a privilege to work on the vaccine study and all the other COVID-19 trials. I remember going to get my vaccine and it was really emotional, it’s such an achievement for everyone involved.

“It’s an honour to have been nominated for this award and to be recognised for the hard work and sacrifice, I’m very proud to be a nurse.”

The awards ceremony took place online and honoured the outstanding efforts, commitment, and achievements made by the whole of the nursing community across Wales.

The Supporting Improvement Through Research award recognises quality in nursing and midwifery research, celebrating those who go the ‘extra mile’.

Susan Palmer, Research & Development Manager at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, who nominated Anna said: “Despite the ever-changing landscape throughout the pandemic, Anna could always be relied upon to be aware of the latest changes and information and guided her team seamlessly.

“A massive congratulations to Anna on this achievement, all in the Research & Development team are very proud of her.”

Dr Nicola Williams, Director of Support & Delivery at Health and Care Research Wales which oversees all COVID-19 research in Wales, said: “All of the research and development staff across Wales have worked incredibly hard over the last 20 months to set-up and deliver vital COVID-19 research studies.

“Without people like Anna, the success we’ve had in finding vaccines and treatments that work would not have been possible. I’d like to say a huge thank you and well done to Anna, this is a fantastic achievement.”

The winner of the Supporting Improvement through Research award is Emma Williams, Haematology Trials Unit Manager at the University Hospital in Wales, for her work pioneering opening studies which help patients with a wide range of blood disorders.