Frome nurse at RUH wins national award

A Senior charge nurse from Frome, who works at the Royal United Hospital,  has won a national nursing award. Simon Andrews won his award at the Nursing Standard’s Nurse Awards – acknowledged as the most prestigious accolade for recognising and rewarding excellence in nursing. He won the ‘Ward Sister’ category, which recognises outstanding ward leaders who excel in delivering safe, high quality patient care.His award recognises his work in joining two wards together to create one trauma unit, uniting two teams who worked very differently, with innovative ideas and ways of working. Through his clinical work, he has reduced the incidence of pressure sores and healthcare-acquired infections and introduced protected mealtimes, privacy and dignity standards, and a dementia care strategy.Simon said, “I’m absolutely delighted to win. It’s such a big deal and I’m so proud that people see me as a role model for nursing. Winning has already opened up such great opportunities, networking with amazing people, sharing good practice – it’s just brilliant. “I do want to say a big thank you to my team at the RUH as this award recognises their work too. Even though I lead the team, I wouldn’t be in this position now if it wasn’t for all their support.” There was also a second winner from the RUH; Junior Sister Lisa Brown won the Royal College of Nursing’s Professional Forums General Award, which is given to a nurse, or healthcare assistant, who has developed nursing policy and/or practice in their speciality area.She was recognised for her work on the Think Pink initiative, a system to deliver care that supports the reduction of pressure ulcers. The initiative is widely used across the RUH and has seen a 58% reduction in pressure ulcers, making a considerable saving in the time nurses spend treating these patients and in clinical supplies.Lisa said, “I’m still in shock I think, it’s just amazing. I felt very privileged to be in the ceremony, to hear all of the fantastic work that’s going on in nursing. The opportunities open to the winners are incredible and I think this is just the beginning of the journey, which is very exciting and just a little daunting.”Both Simon and Lisa work on the Forrester Brown ward and were nominated by their manager, matron Julie Stone, for their dedication and commitment to improving the care and treatment of their patients.Matron Julie Stone, who is immeasurably proud of her staff said, “I’m impossibly thrilled and screamed the place down when their win was announced. I always knew the calibre of Simon and Lisa, and now we’re telling the whole world. This award acknowledges how much we value all their hard work and they absolutely deserve every minute of their success.”