Trust celebrates after winning string of prestigious healthcare awards

An NHS trust is celebrating after winning a string of prestigious healthcare awards.

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, which provides mental health, community, learning disability and social care in the East of England, has scooped two Queen’s Nurse Awards and the Learning Disability Nurse of the Year Award.

Health and care professionals working for the Trust have also landed an NHS@70 Excellence accolade, a Mentor of the Year award, and been nominated for a Nursing Times honour and a brace of NHS Parliamentary Awards.

Joanne Eaton, from the learning disability service, and Elaine Driscoll, from the memory assessment service, both received the Queen’s Nurse Award.

Granted by community nursing charity The Queen’s Nursing Institute, the honour recognises commitment to high standards of patient care, learning and leadership.

Dr Crystal Oldman, Chief Executive of the Institute, said: “I would like to congratulate Joanne and Elaine and welcome them as Queen’s Nurses.

“The application and assessment process to become a Queen’s Nurse is rigorous and requires clear commitment to improving care for patients, their families and carers.

“Queen’s Nurses serve as leaders and role models in community nursing, delivering high quality healthcare across the country.”

Paula Pearl and Jean Kendall, both learning disability community nurses, received the Learning Disability of the Year award at the national Learning Disability and Autism awards in Birmingham.

They were honoured for working with dental practices to improve tooth care for people with learning disabilities.

Jean said: “We feel incredibly honoured to have been presented with this award.

“Between us we have more than 60 years of learning disabilities experience.

“The judges said our enthusiasm was infectious - a lovely comment to hear about doing your job.”

Paula and Jean’s efforts have also ensured the Trust will compete for the learning disabilities nursing accolade in the finals of the Nursing Times awards, scheduled to be held in October.

Mobolaji Lewis, head of physiotherapy (mental health) at the Trust, added to the organisation’s success by scooping an NHS@70 Excellence award from Nigerian Healthcare Professionals UK.

Chosen from a shortlist of more than 200 finalists, Mr Lewis was honoured for his outstanding contribution to the NHS.

Krissie Davis and Samantha Martin, both learning disability community nurses, won the Mentor of the Year award from Hertfordshire University, and the Trust’s Enable East service was nominated by Colchester MP Will Quince for two NHS Parliamentary Awards.

Congratulating the winners and nominees, Professor Natalie Hammond, the Trust’s Executive Nurse, said she and the organisation were “proud and inspired by the commitment and passion they had brought to patient care”.

She said: “These awards and nominations are a testament to our fantastic staff - including our nurses - who are passionate about providing excellent care.

“I hope their outstanding work inspires serving, training and aspiring nurses to join our ranks.”