An Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) at Ysbyty Gwynedd is marking 50 years in the NHS this month. Bernard Jones joined the health service in 1971 as an Operating Trainee Technician at the former C & A Hospital in Bangor, before leaving in 1977 to join the Welsh Ambulance Service where he spent seven years as an Ambulance Technician. During those years, he completed several qualifications and gained invaluable experience on the frontline treating those who needed pre-hospital emergency care. He said: “I decided after seven years with the ambulance service that I wanted to return to work in the hospital and secured an Operating Department Assistant role in Ysbyty Gwynedd when it opened in 1984.
A GROUP of friends who bonded over the shared love of their allotments have been growing produce to support a hospice charity in memory of a friend. Led by founding member Jon Stephenson, ‘The Allotmenteers’ from Northallerton have been growing vegetables in memory of their friend Paul Brennan – known as Bren. Bren was cared for in the last days of his life in November 2019 by Herriot Hospice Homecare carers. The group is donating the proceeds from the vegetables they grow and sell to support Herriot Hospice Homecare s care and support across Hambleton and Richmondshire. Mr Stephenson said: “Following the death of our dear friend Bren in November 2019, we decided to set up a memorial fund in his name to say thank you to Herriot Hospice Homecare for all the support and comfort they provided to him and his family.