2023 Winners
Individual Awards
Ann Shuttleworth Rising Star Award
Winner:
Farrah Amjad
Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
Judges said Farrah is a natural leader, who is an innovative educator with a clear vision for the development of the workforce to empower care staff in providing high standards of care. An inspirational role model who has collaborated across health and social care to empower care staff to deliver delegated care as part of the nursing team. This project encapsulates how doing things differently can lead to true improvements in patient care.
Chief Nursing Officers' Award for Lifetime Achievement
Winner:
Professor Greg Padmore-Dix,
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
Midwife of the Year
Winner:
Laura Walton
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Congratulations Laura Walton. The judges said they were enormously impressed by this incredible midwife who has worked above and beyond to ensure women and those birthing are supported in a maternity service that is trauma informed, offering consistently personalised care. The evidence of impact was clearly demonstrated, not only in data but in the narratives of service users and colleagues. Laura showed outstanding commitment to the families she cares for, her professionalism shone through.
Nurse Leader of the Year
Winner:
Richard Jones
NHS Practitioner Health
The judges were blown away by Richard’s professional credibility, authenticity, compassion and innovation. His work is ground-breaking in supporting health care professionals living with mental health challenges and addiction. His advanced professional skills have elevated equality of multi- professional working and hugely strengthened the nursing voice.
Sponsored by:
Nurse of the Year
Winner:
Eric Teague-Hellon
Practice Plus Group
The judges were unanimous in deciding that this outstanding nurse is this year’s winner, especially given the strong competition. Eric has built a legacy for vulnerable groups of individuals, supporting them to re-enter society. Using his lived experience he supports the veteran community, prisoners and the homeless by bringing together health, prison, police, local authority and third sector services to make a difference when it matters the most. The judges said he is a credit to the nursing profession!
Organisation Awards
Care of Older People
Winner:
Eye envoys
Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
This initiative was devised as a training programme to upskill care home staff to improve service delivery and quality of care in respect to eyecare. The judges said this was innovative, filling the knowledge gap in eye care with a vulnerable, marginalised group of people. Judges said the initiative is original, unique and nurse led. With plans to develop further training and a website, the judges look forward to seeing Eye Envoys grow.
Children’s Services
Winner:
A wish to die at home – making this possible for children
DHU Healthcare, Nottingham Children's Hospital and University Hospitals Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
The judges said that this initiative was a clear example of how nurses go the extra mile to ensure that vulnerable children and their families are given the basic human right to choose where they die. Through a collaborative approach between adult and children's services, across geographical boundaries and organisations, these nurses have bridged the gap in the services available to children with life limiting conditions.
Clinical Research Nursing
Winner:
Stroke trial tracker
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
The judges were impressed by the trial tracker which was designed to streamline the screening and management of patients suitable for research studies. The judges said the stroke trial tracker was a friendly, practical solution to an ongoing challenge in research delivery. Created by nurses for nurses, the team demonstrated the benefits of the tracker to patients, staff and the organisation with an inclusive and easily scalable innovation.
Sponsored by:
Continence Promotion and Care
Winner:
Bowel support service
Your Healthcare Community Interest Company
The judges said this service was created, led and delivered by neurodevelopmental nurses to improve clinical outcomes for adults with intellectual disabilities. This patient centred approach incorporated physical and psychological behavioural outcomes with significant feedback from an array of multi-professional and patient groups demonstrating a positive impact on quality of life.
Critical and Emergency Care Nursing
Winner:
Introducing the pause after a death on the critical care unit
Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust
The judges said this project linked to the fundamentals of nursing care by providing a respectful, peaceful and compassionate closure after the death of a patient. 'The Peace' is a nurse-led initiative based on events affecting the team during the pandemic that allows relatives and staff members to join together to hold a minute of reflective silence. This initiative is not related to any particular belief or religion and is mighty transferable to all clinical areas as the only requirement is an act of kindness by honouring and paying respect to those who have been loved and cared for by those present.
Dame Elizabeth Anionwu Award for Inclusivity in Nursing and Midwifery
Winner:
Kofoworola Abeni Pratt fellowship
Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
This nurse-led co-created project has implemented change that led to a shift in organisational inclusivity, equity and a firm commitment to anti-racism. Alongside creation of leadership opportunities for individual nurses directly involved, it has also had a significant impact on bridging the career progression gap for all staff, disrupting structural procedures & biases and creating empowering safe spaces for staff and service users. This has opened the door for teams to break down accepted organisational barriers which create and perpetuate racial inequalities. The judges were blown away by the passion, advocacy, and sense of pride & belonging that shone all through a social justice & intersectional approach honouring of the legacy of those of who have come before.
Sponsored by:
HRH The Prince of Wales Award for Integrated Approaches to Care
Winner:
Operation Provide
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
The judges thought that this service demonstrated a system wide approach across organisational and professional boundaries that was having life changing impact on service users. The service helps to reach an underserved population who often don't seek healthcare.
Sponsored by:
Infection Prevention and Control
Winner:
Development of a water safety training and assurance package within a haemato-oncology unit – a nurse-led initiative
The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
The judges felt that this entry showed strong and innovative nursing leadership to reduce infection rates through true engagement and collaboration. This included all clinical and non-clinical stakeholders to achieve a shared vision. It showed tenacity and professional curiosity to identify the root cause of increasing cases of a multi resistant organism in a high-risk patient group. The process was implemented in a methodical manner to deliver a sustained change in practice. This is evidenced by an assurance process for water safety, which has demonstrated a reduction in infection rates.
Ingrid Fuchs Cancer Nursing Award
Winner:
Nurse-led initiative in improving prostate cancer pathway
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
The judges were blown away with the tenacity and resilience that accompanied the nursing leadership of Jenny who has transformed the follow up prostate cancer pathway. This innovation has literally saved patients’ lives and has transformed the prostate cancer service at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital. Jenny believes that despite the challenges faced, she wanted to be able to inspire other nurses not to be scared to fight for change. Jenny clearly achieved her objective with this project.
Sponsored by:
Learning Disabilities Nursing
Winner:
QNIS learning disability animation
The Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland
The judges felt this was an innovative, inclusive and proactive project carried out by 8 community learning disability nurses undertaking the Queen's Nursing Institute Scotland leadership programme. The nurses developed the person centred ‘Think COULD’ animation which is a real gamechanger in raising awareness about the needs of people with a learning disability. In addition, it supports awareness about what learning disability is and the impact it might have on a person’s understanding and behaviour. This work is positively impacting on the knowledge and attitudes of a range of health, social care and forensic professionals working in the criminal Justice system. Its success is reflected in the way it has been incorporated into National Police Scotland training and the widespread ministerial support received.
Nursing in Mental Health
Winner:
Reduction in violence and aggression – reinforcing appropriate behaviours
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
The judges said the reduction in violence and aggression project at Belfast's Shannon Clinic was an inspiring example of mental health nursing leadership in really challenging circumstances. Following a very public expose of violence against staff and very poor staff morale, the ward manager and his deputy led the application of a model of positive behaviour support underpinned by robust quality improvement methodology and a programme of care, support and education to bring patients and staff together to rebuild relationships through compelling and compassionate person-centred leadership. This resulted in the transformation of the service and significant improvements in the experience of staff and service users – an approach which is now being shared and rolled out across other areas of the hospital.
Nursing in Primary Care
Winner:
Nurses On Tour: student-led health roadshows
NHS England and Newcastle GP Services
The judges said this is an outstanding example of an innovation to involve student nurses within primary care and health prevention. By exposing students across all fields to primary care, this has increased their desire for a first destination career within general practice. This transferable initiative has demonstrated that the public and especially populations who find it hard to visit general practice, greatly benefited with improved experience and outcomes. Student placement capacity has also increased due to the enthusiasm of the nurses involved.
Nursing in the Community
Winner:
Dementia Palliative Care Team
Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust
The Dementia Palliative Care Service deeply impressed the judges who were blown away by the innovation, passion and drive of its lead nurse. This nurse-led service is providing an excellent level of care to a marginalised group and their families and carers, and is trailblazing a way for the development of similar services throughout the UK and internationally.
Nursing in Social Care
Winner:
Hear well
Care UK
The judges said among a strong field, the Care UK “Hear Well” project stood out. The judges were impressed by the impact of the winner’s approach to identifying unmet needs, promoting wellbeing, reducing social isolation, improving relationships and increasing social engagement. Overall, the quality of life of people living with dementia improved, including reducing the need for health appointments and hospital admissions in unfamiliar settings was evident. The judges believe the use of this technology could have far reaching improvements for all people who use social care.
Sponsored by:
Patient Safety Improvement
Winner:
A collaborative model of meningococcal vaccination response monitoring for patients receiving complement inhibition
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Judges said the Newcastle atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS) service clearly described how current approaches to effective monitoring did not work for this rare disease in a complex health landscape. The team recognised a gap in local management and put in place a new national collaborative pathway involving patients, multiagency partners including health, home care providers, independent sector, and pharma to reduce risk which has significantly improved patient safety.
Public Health Nursing
Winner:
Health visiting direct referral to citizens advice
Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust
Judges said this is an innovative project which targets families who are less likely to access Citizens Advice Services but who are impacted by the wider determinants of health and gain from early and rapid intervention and support. Through minimal investment, the team have already supported families to access £1.7m in previously unclaimed benefits and have helped clear equally significant debts for families. By removing these financial pressures, the service was able to support families focused on their wider health and wellbeing needs. By pooling resources, this collaboration between Citizens Advice and health visiting, maximises the skills and strengths of both services – having the right people at the right place at the right time. A simple intervention that the judges can see being replicated and scaled across the country with significant population gains.
Team of the Year
Winner:
Acute oncology service at North Devon District Hospital
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
The judging panel were highly impressed by the passion and expertise of the team at the Royal Devon and the difference their work made to their patients’ journeys. The team have innovated amazingly to allow nurses to develop their careers in the face of many challenges, while being inclusive, democratic and valuing the contribution of all their team members.
Sponsored by:
Technology and Data in Nursing
Winner:
Creation of a digital neonatal parent passport
North West Neonatal Operational Delivery Network
The judges chose this winning entry because of the significant positive and lasting impact on the parents of babies at a critical time. The solution supports parents to have autonomy to provide direct care for their baby in an unexpected environment. The digital neonatal parent passport enables continuity for parents to care for their baby where there are transfer of care between neonatal units.
Theatre and Surgical Nursing
Winner:
Dignifying surgery for a person with dementia and skin cancer
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
The judges said dignifying surgery for the person with dementia and skin cancer was an example of exemplary nurse intuition and compassion in clinical practice. A person with dementia is at the heart of care delivery, which was reiterated by the entry's presenters who described a whole system approach that is not just based on medical oncology but a person-centred holistic dementia care approach. Judges said this was a reminder of the fundamentals of care.