Tributes to health board director

TRIBUTES have been paid to the woman who led West Wales’ health board through the Covid pandemic after she died at home following a battle with cancer.

Ros Jervis had been Hywel Dda University Health Board’s director of public health since 2017. She had only recently retired to spend more time with her family and friends while she received treatment for her illness. Sadly, she died at her home near Cardigan on Friday, June 3.

She has been credited with leading the health board’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic and been described by colleagues as a “consummate professional” who was “cheerful and heartwarming” and who “brought light and joy to any situation”.

Before taking up one of the most senior health roles across the region of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire five years ago, she was director of public health at the City of Wolverhampton Council and was also an active member of the

National Council for the Association of Directors of Public Health, where she held the lead role for sector-led improvement.

Before she died, Ms Jervis requested that trees be planted in her memory, something her family is now hoping to arrange alongside Hywel Dda University Health Board.

Her family has also raised almost £2,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support over the past few months.

Maria Battle, the health board’s chair, said: “During her time with us, Ros has been a fantastic leader and colleague, ensuring that we have been able to develop the long-term view for a sustainable future that focuses on prevention, with leadership and power for decisionmaking coming from within our own communities now being a possibility for our residents, through Our Future Generations – Living Well strategy.

“Ros also led us over the past two years through the biggest public health emergency to have hit us in our lifetime.”