LLANDEILO NURSE RECEIVES THE BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL

A Llandeilo woman has received the British Empire Medal in recognition of her efforts to improve cardiac nursing care.

Wendy Churchouse was given the honour at a ceremony in Parc Myrddin Register Office in Carmarthen.

Mrs Churchouse was described as an inspirational nurse and role model to others who has been at the forefront of leading and improving cardiac nursing care for over 20 years.

She is the British Heart Foundation arrhythmia nurse at Morriston Hospital and has raised £1,500 for the British Heart Foundation and the Cardiomyopathy Association from charity events.

Mrs Churchouse has also been the single driving force behind the development of the service for relatives and their families where a young family member has died suddenly and unexpectedly.

Her enthusiasm and organisational skills have been cited as a major factor in the success of a multidisciplinary cardiology and genetics team that makes genetic testing available to individuals from these families.

Her infectious enthusiasm has also earned her the respect of all those working around as an ambassador for the cardiac patients in this area.

When Mrs Churchouse learned she had been awarded the British Empire Medal in the New Year’s Honours List, she said she was “shocked, delighted and humbled”.

The BEM is given for meritorious service worthy of recognition by the Crown. It was awarded to Mrs Churchouse by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutant of Dyfed Sara Edwards.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s civil registration service organises award ceremonies along with its other duties which include births, deaths and marriages.