Nurse of the Year
Winner
Eric Teague-Hellon: Practice Plus Group
As an ex-oficer in the Army, Eric is all too aware of how important it is to recognise the needs of veterans and people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
In his role as team leader in primary care at HMP Staford, Eric works alongside reception staf and local charities to ensure that vulnerable patients receive the help and support that they desperately need.
Eric has also worked alongside HMP Staford to develop a Veterans Support Group, which has proved invaluable to those afected by PTSD.
In the community, Eric has worked tirelessly to set up Veterans Connect, a charity that assists people experiencing homelessness with food, clothing, accommodation, night shelters, healthcare, clothing, sleeping bags and tents in the Stoke-on-Trent area.
Finalists
Andrew Barton: Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust
Andrew has undertaken outstanding work in vascular access, which has cut length of stay and improved care. The Frimley vascular access service was one of the first services to ofer peripheral intravenous (IV) access, focus on vessel health and preservation, and use mini- midline catheters for difcult IV access.
Emily Cocker: The Alexandra Hospital and University of Manchester
Pain research, management and education are Emily’s life dedications, and she uses every opportunity to share her knowledge with her peers. She is one of the youngest pain lead nurses in the country and, inside three years, created a formal and functioning pain service in the private sector.
Yolette Fraser: North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust
Yolette developed a nurse-led service for babies born to mothers who are HIV positive. Community visits and flexible outpatient follow-up enable early access to diagnostic tests and interventions. Her work has improved service engagement.
Sarah Gallagher: NHS Gloucestershire ICB
The achievement of having the highest uptake rate for Covid-19 vaccinations for all cohorts in England is thanks to Sarah. She worked with partners to set up a vaccination centre in a fire station. She also looked at diferent settings for clinics. When there is a new vaccination drive, Sarah developsways to boost uptake.
Chloe Hammond: Radis Community Care
Chloe’s journey into nursing has been a rough ride. She had multiple organ failure as a teenager and has been diagnosed with multiple illnesses. She uses a wheelchair and has an assistance dog, Ocho, who she trained to be a therapy dog. Together, they provide additional care in the community. This was a chance to improve care that she couldn’t ignore.
Steven Hardy: Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
Steven has been a learning disability nurse since 1994. In his roles he has challenged restrictive practice and consulted with NHS England. He is also an ambassador for Makaton. He led a campaign about the early death of people with learning disabilities, which helped to ensure learning disabilities were included in the NHS Long Term Plan.
Darina Koneva: Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Darina has shown both resilience and leadership despite working through and living with a terminal diagnosis. The trust recently moved hospitals and Darina, while undergoing chemotherapy, continued to come into work. She is passionate about the care she provides and always wants to give her best.
Tracey Long: Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust
Tracey is passionate about nurses, dovetailing research into their practice, and has engaged at all levels to achieve this aim. With the head of research, she successfully developed and facilitated a local community of research practice, is a co-lead for the 0-19 Research Network, and has facilitated research and nursing sessions for students.
Hilary Maxwell: Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Hilary is an inspirational leader. She set up GO Girls in 2015, recognising that there was a gap in providing dedicated support and advice to all women withgynaecological cancers. GO Girls is now a national registered charity, ofering online support to more than 800 women.
Joan Pons Laplana: NHS England
During his 25 years as a nurse, Joan has continuously pushed the boundaries of what is possible, mobilising others and making change happen. He doesn’t occupy any position of power in the NHS, but his call of action is one of the most powerful in nursing. His reach goes beyond the UK and he is a figure of influence around the globe. He has set up organisations representing Spanish nurses and neurodiverse nurses.
Hannah Welbourne: North Bristol NHS Trust
After identifying there was a national shortage of university-based continuing professional development modules on orthopaedics trauma and surgery, Hannah recognised the opportunity to develop a partnership module with the University of the West of England. Hannah developed the module and it quickly translated into a fully operational running module at level 6 and 7, which is delivered online.