A BETSI Cadwaladr Health Board’s Equality Team has been praised at the 2018 Achievement Awards.

The team won the Equality Award, sponsored by Axia ASD, and marked the outstanding efforts of the team over the last 12 months, having been recognised by LGBT charity Stonewall as one of the UK’s top employers.

The prize was one of 11 awards handed out at the Achievement Awards, sponsored by Centerprise International, which celebrated the outstanding achievements of NHS staff from across north Wales.

As well as ranking 51st in the country in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index, the Health Board was shortlisted for Pink News’ Public Sector Equality Award, recognising the team’s efforts to champion LGBT+ rights.

Sally Thomas, head of equalities, diversity and human rights, said: “We work across the health board promoting equality for all the protected characteristics outlined in the Equality Act.

“We work to improve the way everyone accesses healthcare and works for the organisation, but our particular focus over the last year has been on LGBT issues.

“We’ve had a brilliant year, and a lot of the work we’ve done was recognised by Stonewall and Pink News, where we were shortlisted for an award.

“We work hard with our stakeholders, our patients and our staff to better understand the issues they face when accessing our services.

“This award is really the icing on the cake for what has been a brilliant year for our small team.”

Sue Power, company secretary and educational lead for award Sponsor Axia ASD, said: “We were delighted to present the team with the Advancing Equality award.

“Their work to improve the wellbeing of NHS staff across north Wales was really inspirational, as were the efforts of all those nominated for the award.”

Jeremy Nash, chief executive of Centerprise International, said: “It’s fantastic to be the headline sponsor at the Health Board’s Achievement Awards for the second year running.

“Centerprise is committed to supporting the Welsh community and NHS in equal measure, and the awards were a fantastic celebration of the incredible efforts of healthcare staff from across north Wales.”