Kerre Woodham: Be creative to reward dedication

It was interesting to read of the fuss around the retirement of Barry Sweetman, a painter in the trades staff of the West Coast District Health Board.

He'd given 50 years' service to the board, but the board claimed it couldn't afford to shout him a send-off because the board, like most others around the country, is strapped for cash.

The matter seems to have been resolved amicably, with the board contributing a couple of sausage rolls and a few savs towards the party that had been organised for Mr Sweetman by management and staff. There'd also been a whip-round among employees to buy Mr Sweetman a gold watch.

When we were in Reims, we visited the Bollinger and Veuve Cliquot champagne houses and Veuve Cliquot has a novel way of honouring its longstanding employees. Everyone who works 50 years for the house gets one of the cellars where the champagne is stored named after them.

I know there won't be that many wards at West Coast Hospital but equally there won't be as many employees who are as dedicated as Mr Sweetman. Naming a part of the hospital after Barry might have been the way to go - and it wouldn't have cost the board a cent.