January 06, 2026 - 259 views
Volunteers have been warmly thanked for going above and beyond to support NHS staff during the recent period of severe winter weather, helping ensure vital services continued and patients were cared for safely despite challenging conditions.
Over a three-day period between 4th and 6th January, volunteer-led 4x4 teams played a vital role in ensuring frontline services could continue safely despite hazardous road conditions caused by snow and ice.
Môn Search and Rescue deployed crews for extended hours each day, responding to a road traffic collision that restricted access to Ysbyty Gwynedd, transporting staff to and from Ysbyty Eryri, supporting nearly 20 staff members in a single day, assisting district nurses with the delivery of urgent medication, and helping clinicians reach vulnerable patients and community carers in areas including Tregarth. In total, more than 60 members of NHS staff were supported.
This effort was further strengthened by additional support from 4x4 Response Wales and local taxi firm Chubbs Taxis, whose assistance helped ensure staff were able to reach hospital sites and continue providing care to patients in the community during the challenging conditions.
Scott Jones, Operational Training Lead at Môn Search and Rescue, said: “It’s been our pleasure to help out. We’re a young team and it’s really important for us to be known within our communities and to support where we can.
“We’re exceptionally proud to be doing our bit to help the NHS and local communities, and we want people to know who to call when support like this is needed.”
Paul Andrew, Integrated Health Community Director of Operations in the West of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, added: “I would like to sincerely thank the volunteers who stepped in to support our services during very difficult conditions. Their dedication ensured our staff were able to reach work safely and continue caring for patients both in hospital and in the community.
“I also want to thank our staff who made every effort to attend work, and our estates teams who worked tirelessly to grit and salt our sites to keep them safe from ice.”
The Health Board has expressed its gratitude to all volunteers, staff and partner organisations involved, whose collective efforts ensured patient care continued safely throughout the period of severe winter weather.
Dyfed Edwards, Chair of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said: “The support shown by our volunteers, partner organisations and staff during these very challenging conditions has been remarkable.
“Their kindness, teamwork and willingness to step in made a real difference, ensuring patients continued to receive the care they needed. On behalf of the Board, I would like to sincerely thank everyone involved for their dedication and the strong sense of community they demonstrated.”
