Blog Archives - Bevan Commission

Bevan Exemplar Michelle leaves lasting legacy of connection and wellbeing

Helen Williams — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 08:00:24 +0000

Colleagues of a Bevan Exemplar who passed away aged just 48 have described the ‘lasting legacy’ of her work to reduce loneliness and boost wellbeing with virtual reality (VR).

Michelle Copeman, who died from lung cancer earlier this year, was part of the Bevan Commission’s Bevan Exemplar Programme with Sarah Beauclerk. Together they launched Connecting Realities to help people traditionally disconnected from technology to connect with others and access services – with Sarah describing Michelle as the ‘driving force’ behind its success.

Michelle, who was then a project manager with Hywel Dda University Health Board, and Sarah, director of community interest company Vere Experiences, came together in 2022 to develop Connecting Realities in collaboration with Pembrokeshire County Council and VR Inclusive Mental Health Interventions. This was the closely associated fellow Bevan Exemplar project developed in collaboration with Katherine Lewis and the Pembrokeshire Older Adult Community Mental Health Team.

The Bevan Exemplar Programme supports health and care professionals across Wales to translate innovative ideas into practice, providing training and mentoring to enable projects to improve patient care and health outcomes.

Sarah said: “The project’s success is because of Michelle. I had the concept, but it didn’t have legs until she was involved. She told us about the Bevan Exemplar Programme, and from there, everything came together. No one else has ever had such an impact on anything I’ve done professionally as Michelle, as she laid the foundation, including establishing funding routes, to allow our activity to develop from 2021 to where we are now.

“Although she moved departments quite early on, she maintained an interest and enthusiasm for Connecting Realities, even offering to test experiences two days before she died. Our project is only one example of many she made happen. In a world where it can be easy to feel powerless in the face of complex and challenging systems, Michelle’s enduring legacy shows what a positive difference one passionate and determined individual can make.”

Jess Svetz, Michelle’s line manager and close friend, said: “Michelle’s ability to bring people together, manage complexity and maintain focus on outcomes for patients and communities has left a lasting imprint on how services are designed and delivered locally.

“During her time in Pembrokeshire, she played a significant role in shaping how partners work together, particularly in community-based and intermediate care models. She had a deep understanding of legislation and policy and translated this into practical operational changes across the system.

“Michelle also played a key role in designing and delivering transformation programmes aligned to ‘A Healthier West Wales’, acting as a bridge between local delivery and regional strategy and ensuring Pembrokeshire’s voice was represented.”

Michelle, who was a non-smoker, lived in Pembroke Dock with her partner Tom and their adult children Amber and Jasper, who have consented to her story being shared.

Jess added: “Michelle was such a special person who put everyone before herself, even when she was unwell. She had such an impact on everyone’s lives and we want to show how important she was.”

Connecting Realities and the VR Inclusive Mental Health Interventions project paved the way for Ffynhonnell-Wellspring, an immersive platform for women’s health and wellbeing co-ordinated by Vere Experiences in collaboration with partners across Pembrokeshire.

The Bevan Commission is Wales’ leading independent health and care think tank. It works with health and care professionals, patients and service users, industry, academia and the third sector to challenge, change and champion thinking and practice in health and care.

You can read about the Connecting Realities Bevan Exemplar project here and find out how virtual reality is helping to reduce isolation here.

The post Bevan Exemplar Michelle leaves lasting legacy of connection and wellbeing appeared first on Bevan Commission.

How to fix our food environment

Helen Williams — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 11:34:50 +0000

Dr Daniel Jones, Public Health Physician, Public Health Wales & Bevan Fellow

July 23, 2026

Current Situation

Obesity levels remain stubbornly high in Wales. One in eight children aged 4–5 years and one in four adults are living with obesity, contributing to preventable cancers, rising diabetes, widening inequalities, stifling economic growth and adding significant pressure to public services.

Obesity and being overweight costs NHS Wales over £500 million annually, rising to £2.5 billion when wider societal costs are included. Nearly 5,000 deaths each year in Wales are attributable to unhealthy diets. On average, 1 in 13 calories in adults come from alcohol which is also associated with a range of harms, including cancer. Alcohol harms cost Wales roughly £1 billion per year and nearly half of children admit drinking alcohol aged 13 years or younger.

Preventing overweight and obesity is beyond individuals simply moving more and eating well. There are many layers of influences that shape the food we eat and how we move so, for population level impact, we must shift our focus upstream to address these influences. This includes our food environment.

Why advertising matters for population health

One of the most powerful drivers of unhealthy eating and drinking is the marketing of foods high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) and alcohol, as evidenced by multiple international reviews. These products are cheap, accessible, and aggressively promoted with discounts, branding and prizes. They can be addictive in nature and rarely provide the consumer with proper information on all the risks.

This aggressive marketing is not spread out either: it is concentrated in high streets, commuter routes, deprived areas and areas with high takeaway density – places where children and young people amongst others are regularly exposed to this marketing.

In Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, an NIHR PHIRST Research study found that 74.2% of respondents in Cardiff and 60.9% in the Vale reported seeing HFSS advertising in their area. In local workshops, high levels of aggressive marketing were reported, and children were able to recall such adverts on their school runs. There was clear public support for tackling this. Further fieldwork in the region has highlighted the volume of privately owned outdoor advertising and taking the form of posters, stands and shop fronts. With a local focus on high streets, sports stadia and universities, the findings showed that between 1 in 3 and 1 in 5 adverts are for food and drink and that ¾ of these were for HFSS foods whilst only 1 in 20 showed fruit or vegetables; 1 in 13 adverts were for alcohol.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is clear that mandatory restrictions on unhealthy food and alcohol marketing reduce HFSS and alcohol consumption and improve health outcomes. When Transport for London restricted HFSS advertising, this led to reduced HFSS purchases and it is estimated that this will reduce obesity, diabetes and heart disease over time, saving millions of pounds. It also did not see a drop in advertising revenue contrary to industry predictions.

Local action is underway — but limited by the current regulatory landscape

Vale of Glamorgan Council and Cardiff Council have taken important steps by recently introducing new advertising and sponsorship policies that restrict HFSS marketing on council‑owned assets, the first councils to do so in Wales. These policies align with WHO guidance, similar policies elsewhere and, as part of the Councils’ commitment to our whole system approach through the Good Food and Movement Framework (2024-2030) demonstrates local leadership on a key issue.

However, we estimate that local authorities control only 10–30% of outdoor advertising space in our region. The majority is owned by private operators such as telecoms companies and media groups. Without national regulation, there is the risk that HFSS advertising could simply shift to these unregulated spaces.

Following the UK Government’s restrictions on HFSS advertising on TV and online, it is expected that a large amount of HFSS advertising spend will divert into outdoor advertising. It is vital to get ahead of this. These restrictions also do not apply to alcohol.

Policy levers available to Wales

There is more to do locally, to embed our polices alongside sharing our learning with other Local Authorities. However, the biggest gains would come from:

National regulation of HFSS and alcohol outdoor advertising to create a consistent, equitable approach across Wales that tackles all outdoor advertising at once
Strengthening national planning policy to better enable local authorities to limit hot food takeaway density in key areas, reducing both HFSS availability and associated marketing. Evidence suggests that reducing the concentration of fast‑food outlets can help lower childhood obesity rates and reduce the clustering and impact of HFSS marketing in deprived areas.
Strengthening licensing laws and policies for local authorities, including making public health a statutory objective to be considered in any licensing application

A strategic opportunity for national leadership

Wales has already set out a clear ambition through the Healthy Weight, Healthy Wales strategy to phase out the marketing of HFSS foods by 2030. Delivering that as soon as possible alongside action in other areas, such as planning and licensing, are crucial to supporting healthy weight.

National action would reduce obesity, reduce health inequalities, boost the economy, ease pressure on public services and create healthier food and drink environments for children, young people and adults across Wales.

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Why embedding a greener NHS Wales is not a choice but a ‘must do.’

Helen Williams — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 15:16:44 +0000

Sian Evans, Consultant in Public Health, Public Health Wales and Bevan Fellow

Amidst the growing pressures on NHS Wales — particularly within primary care — it can feel daunting to add yet another expectation to already stretched workloads: practising in a greener and more sustainable way. For some, this agenda has been viewed as something for the “eco-warriors” among us, a “nice to do” rather than a “must do.”

I would argue the opposite. Embedding environmental sustainability in health care is essential for the survival of our services, for the health of our citizens, and for the wellbeing of future generations. The co-benefits for patients, the planet, and for practices themselves are now undeniable.

From Idea to Action

Greener Primary Care Wales was born out of growing concerns over climate change and its impact on patients and citizens in Wales. When we first began this journey, an optometrist said to us:

“We don’t need a few people doing it perfectly. We need millions doing it imperfectly.”

That statement has become the heart of this work.

The Greener Primary Care Wales Framework and Award Scheme, launched in 2022 by the Primary Care Division in Public Health Wales, was designed to help primary care teams reduce their environmental impact while improving health outcomes. The Scheme supports the four contractor professions — general practice, community pharmacy, optometry, and dentistry — and enables practices to register online, implement actions, and be recognised for their progress through an award system.

Driving Change at Scale

Since its launch, the Scheme has exceeded all expectations. We set an initial goal of engaging just 5% of the primary care workforce (around 2,000 practices). Within eight months, we achieved it — and by the end of year three, more than 25% of practices in Wales were registered.

To date, over 5,300 sustainable actions have been implemented across participating practices, ranging from carbon management and energy-efficient buildings to prescribing low global-warming inhalers and promoting active travel. Collectively, these actions have contributed to an estimated 51,300 tonnes of CO₂e reduction — the equivalent of driving more than 130 million miles in a petrol car.

We’ve even had patients contact us directly, asking to be signposted to “greener” practices that align with their personal values. It’s heartening to see the public increasingly view environmental sustainability as a marker of good, modern healthcare.

Co-Benefits: People, Planet, and Practice

The environmental gains are only part of the story. Practices consistently report financial savings, improved staff wellbeing, and stronger community connections as a result of adopting greener approaches.

Many actions are low-cost or cost-saving — such as reducing waste, switching to reusable products, and optimising energy use.

Ultimately, this work is about improving health and preventing illness in ways that don’t harm the planet — an ethos perfectly aligned with Prudent Healthcare, the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, and A Healthier Wales.

The Bevan Experience

The Bevan Commission has played a central role in shaping both the project and my personal journey. Initially accepted as a Bevan Exemplar project in 2022 (Cohort 7), the Bevan Programme raised the visibility of the Scheme and provided a platform for us to promote the work. One of the greatest benefits was the guidance and support provided by the Commission in determining how best to measure the performance and impact of our work.

Once you are part of the ‘Bevan family’, it’s hard to leave, so I applied to the Fellowship Programme and joined Cohort 1 in January 2024. Being part of this programme has allowed me to meet and network with some fantastic innovators leading great work across Wales. It has provided a safe space for healthy challenge from respected peers, as well as time and space to broaden my thinking and perspective on what we are trying to achieve with Greener Primary Care Wales.

One of the personal benefits I’ve seen from the programme is an increase in my confidence, leadership skills, and self-belief that we can do this. I am still grappling with the research agenda and publication aspects of the Fellowship Programme, but I am committed to working with the Commission to publish something in the near future regarding the Scheme.

Learning and Challenges

There have been challenges along the way. Keeping climate change on the NHS agenda amidst competing priorities requires constant effort. Interest and visibility can fluctuate, but having strong policy alignment — from Net Zero Wales to the UN Sustainable Development Goals — has helped sustain momentum.

High-level endorsements, from Welsh Government officials to NHS Wales award recognition, have also been critical in maintaining visibility and legitimacy. Another key learning has been the importance of flexibility — listening to feedback, adapting the Scheme, and refining our approach year on year.

We’ve learnt not to let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Early on, we launched before fully defining our measurement framework — something that goes against public health instincts — but waiting for perfect data would have meant missing the moment. Instead, we acted, improved as we went, and proved that progress is possible even amid uncertainty.

Looking Ahead

Our ambition now is not just to maintain the Scheme but to make sustainability business as usual in every primary care setting in Wales. We have achieved a lot over the last three years, but there is still a lot to do to support primary care to reach Net Zero Wales targets.

While the framework currently supports all four contractor professions, we recognise that one size doesn’t always fit all. Work is underway to tailor the Scheme even more closely to each professional group, engage head offices of multiples and consider an offer for clusters whilst ensuring actions are practical, relevant, and measurable.

The Scheme will continue at least until 2030, during which time we aim to publish a full evaluation of its impacts at both practice level and on the wider system.

Final Thoughts

The Future Generations Report 2025 puts it best:

“The challenges we face are significant, but they are not insurmountable. Delaying action makes change more expensive and difficult. Change will happen — by crisis or by choice. We must act now.”

For me, and for everyone involved in Greener Primary Care Wales, that’s exactly what this work is about: choosing to act now. We’ve shown that greener healthcare is achievable, beneficial, and vital. It’s good for the planet, good for our patients, and essential for the sustainability of NHS Wales.

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Wales Must Back Innovation and Its Workforce to Lead the Next Era of Health Reform

Bevan Commission — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 12:03:37 +0000

Mr. Alan Treharne, Consultant Gynaecologist, Hywel Dda University Health Board and Bevan Fellow

As a clinician who was born and works in Wales, improving standards in our health service is not just professional, it is deeply personal. As a women’s health specialist, I naturally interpret national conversations in the context of my field, but the recent interview with Professor Donald Berwick on BBC One Politics Wales resonated far beyond any one speciality. His reflections are relevant across the entire spectrum of medicine: workforce wellbeing, innovation, and cultural change are challenges—and opportunities—that unite us all. Wales is well-positioned and has immense potential to lead as an example.

Wales stands at a critical crossroads in the future of health and care. The pressures facing the system—staff shortages, growing demand, financial difficulties and the aftermath of a global pandemic—are well documented. But according to Professor Donald Berwick, one of the world’s leading authorities on healthcare improvement, the real opportunity lies not in describing the problems, but in taking bold, values-led action to address them.

In a wide-ranging interview on BBC One Politics Wales with Nick Servini, Professor Donald Berwick delivered a clear and timely message: Wales has the tools, the ambition, and the values to become a global prototype for excellent healthcare, but only if it fully commits to culture change, learning, and innovation, underpinned by a long-term vision.

Berwick, a former adviser to President Obama and the founding president of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, is no stranger to health system reform. He has worked with governments and health leaders around the world. Yet in Wales, he sees something unique: an NHS still committed to the founding principles of equity, universality, and care based on need, not ability to pay. Those principles, he argues, create a foundation on which world-class care can be built.

Workforce Support Is the Defining Challenge

But he was also frank about the risks facing the Welsh NHS. “There’s not enough support, not enough energy,” he said, identifying workforce wellbeing as one of the most immediate and significant challenges to the system’s resilience. The stress and exhaustion being felt by staff cannot be ignored or managed away. Instead, the workforce must be supported, encouraged, and—crucially—developed.

This means more than just recruitment or retention strategies. Berwick emphasised the need for meaningful investment in upskilling, professional development, and creating opportunities for clinical staff to innovate and lead change. In his view, supporting the workforce is not a luxury; it is a strategic necessity.

When staff feel valued, listened to, and empowered to improve care, performance follows. When they are subject to pressure, blame, and a lack of investment, systems stagnate.

Culture Change Over Command and Control

Berwick’s position is clear: improvement cannot be driven by fear or command. “Name and shame do not work,” he said. Drive improvement with a carrot, not a stick. Instead of top-down control, he calls for a shift to positive accountability, where health boards and clinicians are supported to learn from each other, to trial new ideas, and to share what works. The kind of “parochialism” that limits collaboration across regions must be challenged. “Variation” in quality or access across Wales is not inevitable, but we can learn from negative variation and thrive on the positive. But addressing it requires a cultural shift, not simply new metrics or performance targets. Nobody likes being talked down to, but everyone loves to be part of the bigger picture. We need to win hearts and minds; not feel we can’t change the status quo.

This is where Professor Berwick believes Wales has a unique opportunity. The scale of the country, its NHS and its ethos of collaboration make it the ideal setting to model the kind of joined-up, values-driven innovation that other nations aspire to.

Innovation Must Be Embedded, Not Occasional

Central to delivering this kind of transformation is the Bevan Commission, Wales’ leading independent health and care think tank. Berwick praised the Commission’s work in enabling and supporting frontline innovation through programmes like the Spread and Scale initiative, which helps teams turn successful local projects into scalable national solutions. We need to embrace innovation and new ways of doing things, looking not to reinvent the wheel but get on the cart.

He highlighted the importance of reducing “silly rules” and unnecessary bureaucracy that get in the way of improvement. But he also stressed that real change will only come if health boards are willing to learn from each other—and adopt models that are already proving effective.

Community Gynaecology as a Case in Point

One such model is the Enhanced Community Gynaecology Service project, developed in West Wales and now recognised as one of the Bevan Commission’s Adopt, Spread & Embed projects selected for national scaling. This initiative, designed to bring specialist gynaecology care into community settings, was selected for its originality, capacity to release secondary care resources, and its alignment with long-term system goals.

It reflects the wider Welsh Government commitment to Women’s Health Hubs, designed to offer joined-up, accessible care for women across the life course, particularly for those with complex or multiple needs. In doing so, it demonstrates the kind of innovation Berwick advocates: clinically led, patient-focused, and integrated.

Tipping point

Wales has a chance to change and be a leading example for healthcare systems across the world. It’s in our gift, all of us working in Wales, to make this happen, and we need to seize the moment and shine.

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The Economic Cost of Poor Health in Wales

Bevan Commission — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 09:40:08 +0000

Wales is at a crossroads. The decisions we take today will determine whether our country merely survives or truly thrives in the face of profound demographic, social, and economic change.

The Bevan Commission, as Wales’ leading health and care think tank, has been examining the future sustainability of our nation. What we have found is sobering. The challenge is no longer just about improving our health services. It is about addressing the health and wellbeing of the Welsh population, how we live, work, and age through the next decade and beyond.

By 2045, the Welsh population will be older, sicker, and facing rising levels of chronic disease. The number of people aged 90 and over will nearly double.[1] Dementia cases are expected to rise by 70%.[2] Chronic conditions such as diabetes, cancer, and mental health disorders will place even greater strain on services already under pressure. We are facing a fundamental demographic shift. By 2045, there will be just two working-age adults for every person aged 65 or over, compared to three today.[3] That change will grow seven times faster than the under-65 population.

This will have far-reaching consequences. With fewer young people entering the workforce and more people needing support later in life, we are heading towards a situation of “fewer hands; greater demands.” The most critical gaps are likely to appear in social care, where projections suggest a need for more than 40,000 additional staff and 20,000 more care home beds.[4][5] Our tax base will come under pressure. Public services will be stretched. More people will be working later in life, often with complex health needs of their own. By some estimates, workforce sickness absences could rise by as much as 27.5%.[6] This is on top of current sickness absence rates in Wales of 2.3% – 7.2 million days lost through sickness absence per year.[7]

And yet, while the outlook may appear stark, Wales is not without hope. We have a clear opportunity and indeed, a responsibility to act now.

The key lies in prevention, not just treatment. We must move from a sickness model to one rooted in wellbeing. Keeping people healthier for longer will be important, and the workplace is one of our most powerful settings to make that happen.

We are not talking about costly gym memberships or large-scale programmes. Small, meaningful changes, like walking instead of taking the lift, or encouraging team walking groups, can build core strength, combat sedentary lifestyles, improve productivity, employee retention, talent attraction, and innovation. Employers can play a vital role by supporting healthy behaviours, offering incentives for daily activity, and rewarding personal wellbeing achievements. Initiatives such as the Education for Patients Programme (EPP), led by volunteers, are also helping people to manage long-term conditions with greater confidence and autonomy.

Raising awareness about the signs of cancers and other major conditions, expanding access to simple health checks (such as blood pressure monitoring), and ensuring that people can get the right support at the right time are critical steps towards a healthier and more productive Wales.

But physical health is just one part of the picture. We must also acknowledge the growing pressure on people’s emotional and mental wellbeing, whether it is caused by caring responsibilities, financial hardship, work or life’s other stresses. Creating supportive, compassionate working environments will be vital, alongside flexible policies that reflect the complex lives people lead, including support for unpaid carers.

This is not just the role of the NHS. All of us, government, employers, communities and individuals, have a part to play in shaping a healthier, more sustainable Wales. We must build a culture that values work-life balance, that supports people to care for themselves and one another, and that sees wellbeing not as an added benefit but as a foundation for our future.

Wales can be fit for the future, but only if we act now. The path ahead will not be easy, but it is navigable. By investing in prevention, embracing innovation, and supporting people where they live, work and play, we can help transform the challenge of an ageing population into an opportunity for a healthier, more resilient nation. A business that leads supportive, flexible, and healthy working environments will not only have a more resilient workforce but will also become an employer of choice in an increasingly tight labour market.

Let us build a Wales not defined by illness but strengthened by wellbeing.

[1] Welsh Government, ‘National population projections: 2022‑based’ (StatsWales, 28 January 2025) https://statswales.gov.wales/Catalogue/Population-and-Migration/Population/Projections/National/2022-based accessed 16 July 2025.

[2] Rebekah James, ‘Planning ahead: dementia services in Wales’ (Senedd Research, 24 May 2023) https://research.senedd.wales/research-articles/planning-ahead-dementia-services-in-wales/ accessed 16 July 2025.

[3] Welsh Government, ‘National population projections: 2022‑based’ (StatsWales, 28 January 2025) https://statswales.gov.wales/Catalogue/Population-and-Migration/Population/Projections/National/2022-based accessed 16 July 2025.

[4] WeCare Wales, WeCare Wales Report (WeCare Wales, December 2022) https://wecare.wales/assets/content/WeCare-Wales-update-report-Dec-22-ENG.pdf accessed 16 July 2025.

[5] Care Home Professional, Care Home Professional, 100th Issue (Care Home Professional, February 2024) https://tatencare.co.uk/category/care-home-professional/ accessed 16 July 2025.

[6] Modelled using data from: Office for National Statistics, Sickness absence in the UK labour market: 2024 (ONS, 2 April 2024) https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/articles/sicknessabsenceinthelabourmarket/2024 and Welsh Government, ‘National population projections: 2022-based’ (StatsWales, 28 January 2025) https://statswales.gov.wales/Catalogue/Population-and-Migration/Population/Projections/National/2022-based both accessed 16 July 2025.

[7] Office for National Statistics, ‘Sickness absence in the UK labour market’ (ONS, 4 June 2025) https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/datasets/sicknessabsenceinthelabourmarket accessed 16 July 2025.

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Wales vs. England Over 75s Football Match: Exemplifying Healthy Ageing

Ryan Phillips — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 14:14:56 +0000

This July, we were delighted to present the prestigious Aneurin Bevan shield to the winning team at the Over 75s World Cup match between Wales and England at St George’s Park.

This fixture, hosted by the Wales Veterans’ Football Association, honored ‘Nye’ Bevan, the founder of the NHS. It was a proud moment for the Bevan Commission to support this memorable day, celebrating veteran athletes and this fantastic initiative to support healthy and social ageing.

As our population grows older, this initiative exemplifies the kind of action required to enable healthy and happy ageing, reducing illness, care needs and the stigma around older people’s health.

In our Foundations For The Future Model Of Health And Care In Wales we unpack the importance of health ageing along with other crucial priorities for addressing the needs of our population now and in the future.

The Foundations For The Future Model Of Health And Care In Wales

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With Deep Sadness: Professor Sir Mansel Aylward’s Passing

Helen Howson — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 14:19:32 +0000

Read Dr Helen Howson's EulogyRead Dr Helen Howson's Eulogy

We are deeply saddened by the passing of our founder, Professor Sir Mansel Aylward CB, who passed away peacefully on the 29th May 2024. Sir Mansel was a visionary leader, a dedicated champion for public health, and a tireless advocate for the principles of the NHS.

Sir Mansel’s services to health and social care were monumental throughout his distinguished career, notably serving as Chief Medical Officer, Medical Director and Chief Scientist at the DHSS/DWP in Whitehall for 10 years and being appointed as the first ever Chair of Public Health Wales NHS Trust.

Sir Mansel’s vision will always remain at the heart of the Bevan Commission’s work, and his legacy of innovation, compassion and courageous leadership will guide our continued efforts to ensure all Welsh citizens can access the very best health and care.

We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.

Sir Mansel’s Legacy

Professor Sir Mansel Aylward CB was an extraordinary person. Throughout his long and influential career, he pursued health and care excellence with a humility, kindness and determination which inspired those fortunate enough to know him. Although his legacy will be felt across the world, Mansel will be most dearly missed in Wales where he worked tirelessly for his community and was loved by so many.

Sir Mansel was born in the Ex-servicemen’s Club in Merthyr Tydfil in November 1942. From an early age, Sir Mansel went above and beyond to look after those in need. As a 23-year-old medical student, Sir Mansel was driving home to Merthyr Tydfil when he was pulled over by police who told him he could not go any further because there had been a disaster in Aberfan. Upon learning about his medical training, he was sent to assist the rescue effort, where he was one of the first responders at the Aberfan Disaster; the tragic event in which a coal waste tip collapsed, killing 116 children and 28 adults. This event profoundly impacted him, and after completing his training, he returned to Merthyr Tydfil to take up a position as a General Practitioner.

In 1974, Sir Mansel founded SIMBEC Research Ltd in Merthyr Tydfil, a research laboratory specialising in pharmaceutical, medical therapies, and clinical interventions for clients across the world. His leadership led to the company receiving several awards, including the BBC Company of the Year Award and the European Small Business Award. During this period, he also worked with Women’s Health Concern to found the first non-NHS Hormone Replacement and Menopause Clinics in the UK.

Between 1988 and 1995, Sir Mansel held several key roles at the Department of Social Security (DSS) and the Department of Health & Social Services (DHSS). Initially serving as a Senior Medical Officer at the DSS, he quickly progressed to become the Principal Medical Officer and Business Development Director for the Benefits Agency Medical Services (BAMS). During this time, Sir Mansel was the principal author of the first edition of “The Disability Handbook”, a key resource that is widely used to uphold and enforce the rights of those living with disability.

Between 1995 and 2005, Sir Mansel took on key roles in London as the Chief Medical Advisor, Medical Director, and Chief Scientist at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Here, he was responsible for developing the Personal Capability Assessment, a key component of the government’s Welfare Reform Programme, which focused on rehabilitation, re-skilling, and support for people with disabilities. His efforts brought greater transparency and objectivity to the assessment of work capacity and disabilities, influencing policy and practice across Europe.

Returning to Wales in 2005, Sir Mansel was appointed as the Director of the Centre for Psychosocial and Disability Research at Cardiff University. Here, he led a multidisciplinary team researching the psychological, social, and cultural factors impacting health, illness, and disability in disadvantaged communities. His work in Wales also included:

2008-2024: Establishing and chairing the Bevan Commission, Wales’ leading independent health and care think tank, providing strategic advice on health and care in Wales.
2009-2017: Sir Mansel was the inaugural Chair of Public Health Wales, overseeing the unification of public health services and the establishment of the Wales National Public Health Observatory.
2017-2021: Sir Mansel was Chair of Wales’ Life Sciences Hub, a collaborative innovation center producing research, development, and commercialisation in the life sciences sector.

Sir Mansel’s expertise and leadership were recognised internationally. He has served as a consultant to the United States Social Security Administration and as a special advisor to the New Zealand Ministry of Health. His contributions to disability assessment medicine and public health earned him visiting and honorary professorships at several universities in Europe and North America.

Sir Mansel was made a Companion of the Bath in 2002 and was knighted in 2010, in recognition of his significant contributions to public health. He has also been awarded the Freedom of Merthyr Tydfil, a testament to his enduring commitment to his community.

Throughout his career, Professor Sir Mansel Aylward was known as a kind, compassionate and inspirational leader with a profound dedication to improving the lives of people across Wales, the UK, and internationally. His work will have significant and enduring impact on public health policy and practice, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations in Wales and beyond.

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Sustainable surgeons win Sir Mansel Aylward Innovator Award

Helen Williams — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 11:32:36 +0000

Pioneering surgeons Preetham Kodumuri and Edwin Prashanth Jesudason have been awarded the prestigious Sir Mansel Aylward Innovator Award by the Bevan Commission for their groundbreaking work in reducing waste and costs while improving patient care in surgery. The award, presented by Professor Mark Drakeford MS at the Senedd, recognises outstanding innovation and contribution to the Welsh health and care system.

The award-winning project refines standard carpal tunnel surgery and other minor hand procedures to significantly reduce waste and carbon emissions. This new approach, taking hand surgery outside of theatres has reduced clinical waste by 65% and cut the carbon footprint by about 80%, saving £35 per surgery – freeing up budget and theatre space for other patient care. If implemented across Wales, this new way of working could result in annual savings of approximately two million pounds and 1166 tons of CO2 emissions. Additionally, this innovation results in a shorter hospital visit for patients and frees up ward space for other medical procedures. This project was supported by the Bevan Commission as part of the Bevan Exemplar programme, which, to date, has supported over 350 health and care innovations in Wales.

”Diolch yn fawr iawn pawb!

This project was a team effort from Bangor and Wrexham, and thanks to all those who helped make it a success. We hope to build on our success and promote our way of working to our colleagues throughout the country. Moving out of theatre for such cases is cheaper, better for the environment, and easier for patients and staff alike, without compromising safety.
Prash Jesudason

”We are humbled and honoured to receive this award. With further support from the Bevan Commission through our Bevan fellowships, we are now focussing our efforts on streamlining patient pathways and engaging with industry to build a sustainable healthcare for the future generations.
Preetham Kodumuri

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Celebrating Cohort 8 of the Bevan Exemplar Programme: A Journey of Innovation

Helen Howson — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 11:05:07 +0000

On the 13th of June, we celebrated the remarkable achievements of cohort eight of the Bevan Exemplar Programme at the Senedd. Over the past year, this cohort of 40 projects have developed and seeded a huge range of timely innovations across Wales.

We are continually impressed by the passion of Bevan Exemplars, with most developing their innovation ideas on top of their busy day jobs. Some Exemplars worked in teams, and some worked alone – but together they supported each other through this challenging programme to produce some truly exciting ideas. If innovation was easy, everyone would be doing it. This is why it is so important to celebrate the bravery, passion, creativity and commitment of Cohort 8 Exemplars.

Who were Cohort 8?

Cohort 8 was composed of a vibrant mix of health and care professionals from across Wales, each bringing their unique perspectives and expertise to their projects which aimed to improve services and patient outcomes.

Some highlights included:

The introduction of an early intervention, primary care-based pain management service which has improved the quality of life of patients and reduced the prescribing of pain medication
The development and introduction of a Phone First –Diabetic Foot Emergency Early Triage (DFEET) Service Within Cardiff And Vale Podiatry, which has improved healing rates and reducing waiting times
The batch manufacture of Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy by in-house technical services which has the potential to generate significant cost savings and reduce length of stay in hospital
The implementation of the P.A.C.T programme in primary care, optimising health and wellbeing outcomes for individuals with prostate cancer, and releasing GP and nursing time.

What’s Next for Cohort 8?

The ongoing success of these projects hinges on continuous support. We have seen the positive impact they have had in a short space of time; the next step is to ensure they continue, and are adopted across Wales to ensure they make a lasting impact on the health and care system in Wales. The Exemplars, and the Bevan Commission, cannot do this alone. It requires other health and care professionals from across Wales to be brave, to learn from the experiences of the Exemplars, and look to adopt the tried and tested models in their areas. We urge you to consider how you can be brave.

Find out more

Supporting Future Innovators – Cohort 9

The Bevan Exemplar Programme doesn’t end with Cohort 8. The journey for Cohort 9 is just beginning. If you have a great idea and want to take the next step, please consider applying for Cohort 9. We are looking for innovative projects, led by passionate and committed individuals that can transform health and social care in Wales. We can support you along every step of your innovation journey. The Call is open until 14th July.

More information here: Apply to join Bevan Exemplars Cohort 9 – Bevan Commission

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Exploring the relationship between Employment and Health

Helen Howson — Thu, 23 May 2024 10:47:25 +0000

As outlined in our Foundations For The Future Model Of Health And Care In Wales, we believe an all-Wales, cross-sector approach is essential to creating good health and sustainable solutions for Wales.

Our recent Roundtable event that brought together healthcare, government, and businesses leadership, attended by participants included First Minister Vaughan Gething, and senior representatives from Public Health Wales and major companies including CGI, Shell, Airbus and Admiral.

We were also joined remotely by Corresponding Bevan Commissioner Professor Dame Carol Black who opened the event with an insightful and timely reflection on the relationship between employment and health. This video is an essential watch for anyone interested in workforce and population health.

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