A RETIRED Cardigan nurse has been presented with her British Empire Medal.

Jennifer Ladd, an emergency nurse practitioner at the Minor Injury Unit at Cardigan Hospital until her retirement in September last year, was honoured in the New Year Honours List for services to Ceredigion and Hywel Dda University Health Board.

The nurse, from Llangoedmor, worked at the hospital for more than 20 years. She was presented with her medal by Miss Sara Edwards, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed, at a special ceremony at the offices of Ceredigion County Council in Aberaeron on May 30.

Mrs Ladd, a familiar face to many in the Cardigan area, was awarded the medal for her dedication to improving patient care and safety in her community.

It was also awarded for mentoring students and ensuring the success of the only community nurse-led MIU in the Hywel Dda University Health Board.

She is influencing the plans for the new Integrated Care Centre in Cardigan. The plan is to build on the existing service and include extended hours.

Mrs Ladd said: “It was a real honour for me to receive this award and to see that the effort we put into maintaining and developing the Minor Injury Unit has been recognised.

“I look forward to seeing the new Cardigan Integrated Care Centre open with the Minor Injury Unit playing a key role in the services being provided there.”

Eifion Evans, Ceredigion County Council’s chief executive. He said: “Mrs Ladd has worked tirelessly in her community for years. She led the MIU in Cardigan Hospital for 10 years and has played a vital role in providing essential first line care to a rural part of west Wales. She is fully deserving of the medal.”

The British Empire Medal recognises a sustained, local contribution or innovative, high-impact work.