Cardiff Haematology Trials Unit Manager wins Royal College of Nursing Wales Award

Emma Williams, from Cwmfelinfach in Caerphilly, won the Supporting Improvement through Research Award at the Royal College of Nursing Wales’ Nurse of the Year Awards 2021.

After starting her role as Haematology Trials Unit Manager at the University Hospital of Wales in 2015, Emma worked towards increasing the number of haematology research studies, helping change the lives of people with a wide range of blood disorders

Emma worked collaboratively with Principal Investigators (PI) to set up monthly departmental meetings and created a strategic plan to make sure patients had every opportunity to take part in potentially life-saving trials. Her determination has led to the Unit opening over 65 studies in ten disease areas.

Emma, who has been working in haematology research since 2009, said: “Being able to give all our patients the option of taking part in crucial trials for treatments they wouldn’t have access to any other way really motivates me to keep moving forward.”

As a result of her hard work and passion for research, Emma became the Haematology Clinical Research Group’s nurse-PI for Horizons, the first nurse-led study in Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, exploring the wellbeing of patients diagnosed with cancer.

Inspired by her work on Horizons, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic Emma opened her own study, called CAR-T QUOL, looking at patient’s quality of life after having a new treatment where immune cells are removed, modified and returned to the patient’s blood to seek and destroy cancer cells.

Emma continued: “I saw the fear our CAR-T patients had, after exhausting all other treatment options they also had to deal with the risk of catching COVID-19. I wanted to understand how we could make what they’re going through even just a little easier.

“Nurses tend to have a close relationship with their patients, so important a nurse is there, at the centre of that study, to guide them through. I really want to encourage nurses to lead research, they’re invaluable to a patient’s experience.

“I’m so grateful to have represented haematology. This award means so much and puts a spotlight on the incredible work from across the team showing how we change lives.”

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’.

Dr Nicola Williams, Director of Support & Delivery at Health and Care Research Wales which helps to support and deliver essential research in Health Boards across Wales, said: “I’d like to say a huge congratulations and thank you to Emma for her incredible work in this disease area. It’s fantastic to see research staff develop and how far Emma has come, and that has been recognised through the award today.”

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board’s Executive Nurse Director, Ruth Walker said: “A huge congratulations to Emma who, alongside a number of RCN Nurse of the Year Award winners from Cardiff and Vale University Health Board this year, has made an outstanding contribution to the nursing and midwifery profession here in Wales.

“Emma’s dedication to driving research activity forward within the Health Board is truly deserving of this award, and as part of our research teams has a major impact on improving care and identifying new treatments for patients.”

Senior Team Lead for Research Delivery at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Anna Roynon, was the Supporting Improvement through Research award runner-up for creating an environment in her Health Board where more COVID-19 patients could take part in trials which are vital in the fight against the virus.