SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, congratulates students who have completed a new nursing programme in Wrexham and St Asaph.
Mr Rowlands was commenting as students completed the first course under the Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) commissioning contract at Wrexham University. Some of them studied at the University’s Plas Coch site, while others at the St Asaph campus. Significantly for St Asaph, this cohort is the first group of students to study in the central area of North Wales for 30 years
He said: “Well done to all those who completed this new course and I am particularly pleased to see some of the students training in St Asaph for the first time in 30 years.
“This is an historic moment and I wish all the students well in their future careers.”
Addressing the students, who studied adult, children’s or mental health nursing in Wrexham and St Asaph, BCUHB’s executive director of nursing and midwifery, Angela Wood said: “You are entering a profession that is evolving, expanding, and more vital than ever. You will be the ones who shape the future of care in North Wales. You will innovate, advocate, and lead.
“And now, as you prepare to join our workforce, I want you to know we are ready for you. We welcome you not just as graduates, but as colleagues. You bring fresh perspectives, new energy, and a deep sense of purpose that will enrich our teams and our communities.”
Alison Lester-Owen, principal lecturer and professional lead for nursing at the St Asaph campus of Wrexham University, said: “For our students based in St Asaph, this moment is even more historic as they are the first to train in central North Wales in over 30 years.
“That’s not just a statistic – it’s a powerful reminder of how access to education, close to home, can be transformative both for individuals and communities.”
Professor Paul Davies, deputy vice-chancellor of Wrexham University, said: “At Wrexham University, we are incredibly proud of what our students have achieved – not just academically, but in the way they have embraced the demands of the programme, supported one another and prepared themselves to step into vital roles in our health and care system.
“They are exactly the kind of graduates this region, and the nursing profession needs: resilient, compassionate, skilled, and deeply rooted in the communities they are going on to serve.”
The students are the first cohort to complete their degrees on the Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) commissioning contract, following a successful tender for funding back in 2022, which led to a partnership working arrangement between Wrexham University, HEIW and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB).
