Buckley district nurse becomes a Health Board star

A district nurse from Buckley has won a prestigious Health Board Award for her bravery and dedication to her patients in the face of Flintshire’s ‘snowmaggedon’ before Christmas.

Dedicated nurse Myra Sutton, 60, stepped in to help when staff could not get to work in the heavy snowfall during December to make sure vulnerable patients who couldn’t get out of their homes received their vital medication.

Colleagues nominated Myra for the award because of her bravery in battling her way through the atrocious conditions, abandoning her vehicle and walking miles to reach her diabetic and palliative care patients to make sure they were comfortable and had the medical care they needed.

Myra’s courage is even more impressive as during a snowfall seven years ago she worked through her shift helping her patients, even though she had been told her son had died that day in a car crash which left her traumatised about working in snowy conditions.

Myra said, “I really didn’t expect this Award today. I’m really surprised. I feel like I just do my job. I do my duty going out and visiting patients and when I help people I am just doing what I love. I really, truly appreciate this award.”

Chief Executive of Betsi Cadwaladr Gary Doherty said, “Myra is a worthy winner of our latest Seren Betsi Star Award.

“Her colleagues have said how much she embodies the Betsi values of putting patients first and delivering excellent healthcare. She displayed such courage putting aside previous experiences to help others.

“Her colleagues are so proud of her dedication to her patients and with the recent spells of bad weather she represents what is best about NHS staff, their commitment to go the extra mile for the people in their care. Well done Myra.”