Comment by Maria Battle Chair of Hywel Dda University Health Board

A POIGNANT day of reflection is being held across the UK on Tuesday, 23 March.

Families who have suffered the loss of a loved one either directly from Covid-19, or during the pandemic, are living every day with their personal grief and loss. In Hywel Dda University Health Board alone, 474 people have died from Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic.

Loved ones lost before their time.

Our thoughts and sympathies are first and foremost with people who are grieving at this time. The hope is that this day of national reflection will demonstrate that their loved ones were seen and are remembered. Our thoughts are also with our staff who cared for those lost so lovingly at the end of their lives.

Alongside remembrance and reflection,we have also turned our attentions to the recovery and learning that is necessary as we start to emerge out of the pandemic.

I am so very proud of the sacrifices made by our staff (front line and support), their families, our partners and our communities during the past year.

I have been awed by how our communities have rolled up their sleeves. Whether that has been other key workers, people staying at home, those shielding, home schooling, or in support of neighbours by volunteering and carrying out heartwarming acts of human kindness.

The hope and the light that came when we received the first batch of vaccines on 8 December 2020 grows daily and shines more brightly. Our staff, volunteers and partners have worked so hard together in recent months to deliver vaccines to those most at risk, to save lives and protect us all.

We will use what we have learnt and all our experiences to inform what we do and how we do things moving forward to hopefully, make things better for our communities, our staff and our patients.