Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

 Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is reflecting on the great work its nurses do every day, and reminding the local community that they have until May 31 to nominate a nurse, midwife or team for the Foundation Trust’s Director Of Nursing Awards. 

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust includes Andover War Memorial Hospital, Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, and Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester, as well as community services in Alton and Bordon.

Chief nurse, Donna Green, explains: “International Nurses Day is a great opportunity to reflect on the wonderful work of our nurses and midwives. Nurses have been caring for patients for hundreds of years and everyone will be touched by their work at some point in their lives. 

“There is still time to nominate a nurse or midwife, or nursing and midwifery team, in our Director of Nursing Awards. This is the seventh year we have held the awards and I am always impressed by the stories of outstanding care and dedication that the nominations contain. With just weeks left to go until the closing date, there is still time to nominate a team or individual who has touched your life.”

There are two categories for nominations in any clinical area:  individual nurse / midwife and nursing /midwifery team.

If you would like to nominate a member of staff for the Director of Nursing Awards, you can do so until the end of May, either by completing a nomination form online at click here, contacting Karen O’Hanlon on 01256 313435 or emailing dona@hhft.nhs.uk. Nominations will be reviewed by a panel of public representatives and all nominees will be invited to an awards ceremony on Thursday 5 July at Oakley Hall, near Basingstoke, where the winners will be announced.

Case Studies – Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust nurses improving patient care

Paula Southgate, Andover War Memorial Hospital

Paula Southgate is a ward manager on Kingfisher Ward at Andover War Memorial Hospital. She is also a Foundation Trust governor, representing nursing and midwifery staff on the Foundation Trust’s Council of Governors. As a member of the patient experience group, Paula works closely with patients to improve and develop services.

Paula said: “From a very young age I decided that nursing was the career for me. I love being a nurse and being able to make such a difference to a patient’s stay and experience by caring for them and their families as if they were my own friend or relative. I am extremely proud of the excellent standard of care our patients receive during their stay with us. We strive to improve and enhance the service we provide to support and encourage our patients to achieve their personal goals.   

“I am very excited for the future within our Foundation Trust and the scope to expand and develop new services to provide a dynamic and efficient service for our community and the surrounding areas.”

Jill Arber, Royal Hampshire County Hospital

Jill Arber is a senior sister on the Emergency Medical Assessment Unit at Royal Hampshire County Hospital and is currently working on a project to streamline patient flow through the Assessment Unit. As part of the project Jill, along with her team, has introduced two patient trolley areas, where patients are assessed and either discharged or transferred to a ward for specialist treatment. This means that patients can be seen quickly and referred for appropriate treatment, helping to improve care and reduce the patient’s length of stay.

Jill said: “As a nurse, I love the fact that every day is different. I started nursing in 1987 and patients have always been at the heart of everything I do and will always be my number one priority".

“Hampshire Hospitals strives to provide high quality patient care and we receive very positive feedback from our patients. It is an exciting time to work at the Foundation Trust as the recent integration has provided us with a great opportunity to share best practice across Hampshire Hospitals. Staff development is a priority for the Foundation Trust as well as excellent patient care.”

Jo Mellor, Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital

Jo Mellor is a sister at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital. Jo is working on a project to introduce a mobile chemotherapy unit which will visit sites in Andover, Alton, Tadley and Eastleigh. This will help to significantly reduce the distance patients have to travel for chemotherapy treatment.

Jo said:  “I feel very proud to be a nurse. Being able to help and support a patient at a time when they are vulnerable is an immense privilege and extremely rewarding. I work with a very dedicated and caring team of nursing professionals and am fortunate to work within a Foundation Trust which is forward-thinking and always eager to improve patient care.”

It is an exciting time to join Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, whether you are considering returning to nursing or advancing your nursing career. Current vacancies can be viewed at www.jobs.nhs.uk

Ends

1. Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a population of approximately 600,000 patients in Hampshire and parts of west Berkshire.
2. HHFT has about 5,000 staff and a turnover of £300 million a year.
3. HHFT delivers one hospital service across multiple locations including its own hospitals, Andover War Memorial Hospital, Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital and Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester. It also provides outpatient and assessment services from Bordon and Alton community hospitals.
4. As a Foundation Trust, HHFT is accountable to the local community through a system of local ownership with members and elected governors. HHFT has to date 18,600 staff and public members. Foundation Trusts are free from central government control and can reinvest any surplus to develop clinical services. They are authorised and regulated by Monitor, an independent regulator.
5. Foundation Trust governors are in role for two or three years.

Media contact

Contact the communications team on (01256) 313062 E-mail:  communications@hhft.nhs.uk