Ellen Howells

With over 31 years of nursing experience, Ellen Marie Howells has developed extensive expertise across surgery, gastroenterology, endoscopy, management, and education. Since 2008, Ellen has served as the Lead Specialist Screening Practitioner at Swansea Bay University Health Board, where she plays a crucial role in delivering high-quality bowel screening services both locally and as part of Bowel Screening Wales.

In her leadership capacity, Ellen supports Specialist Screening Practitioner (SSP) teams, endoscopy units, and management teams by providing daily professional advice and guidance. Her work spans multiple professional groups and organizations across Swansea Bay University Health Board and Hywel Dda University Health Board. Ellen’s commitment to service development ensures that patient care standards remain of the highest quality and patient-centered.

Drawing from her prior experience as a Clinical Educator, Ellen is passionate about nurturing and developing nursing staff. She actively facilitates the Bowel Screening Wales Colonoscopist Mentorship and assessment days, fostering the enhancement of skills among colonoscopists and endoscopy nurses alike. These mentorship opportunities encourage collaboration with expert consultant panels, promoting continuous professional growth within the service.

Ellen also contributes her expertise as a member of the Bowel Screening Wales NMDT management group and represents the health board at the Bowel Screening Wales all-Wales management group. Her role involves close collaboration with the Swansea University research unit, supporting various studies that underpin service improvements. As part of a culture of continuous quality assurance, Ellen has published audit findings on bowel preparation in the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) journal, demonstrating her commitment to evidence-based practice.

Known for her “old-school” nursing values, Ellen combines confidence and competence with a genuine passion for patient care. She is deeply committed to providing approachable and supportive leadership to nursing teams across Wales. As a member of the WAGE committee and the Lead Nurse Allied Health Care representative, she aims to ensure that the nursing voice is strong, heard, and influential in shaping healthcare services.

Ellen has been a proud WAGE member since 2008 and is a Registered General Nurse. Her professional journey reflects a dedication to excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement in patient care.