High hopes for nursing awards for NHS Trust

The Isle of Wight NHS Trust has been shortlisted in two categories in this year’s Nursing Times awards. The Community Rapid Response Team has been shortlisted in the ‘Care of Older People’ category for its response to meet the needs of older patients in crisis during the pandemic. This involved working closely with partners to make urgent system-wide changes, including using technology and improved co-ordination of care to treat more people at home. This provided patients with more choice and a genuine alternative to hospital admission.

Jen Edgington, Associate Director of Nursing and AHPs (Allied Health Professionals) for Community Services, has been shortlisted for the ‘Nurse Leader of the Year’ category. Under her leadership, the community services on the Island have seen improved collaboration with staff, patients, their families and carers and partner organisations to provide innovative, patient-focussed care. This included specialist support to local care homes and rolling out vaccinations for those patients being treated at home during the pandemic.

Lesley Stevens of the trust said: “The Isle of Wight’s population is on average older than the rest of the UK and many more people live alone in their later years. Our increased focus of having staff and modern resources in a community setting makes it easier for people to access care closer to home. It is great that this work is being recognised nationally.”

Jen Edgington said: “I’m personally feeling very humbled to be shortlisted for this year’s Nursing Times Leader of the Year award. Our teams work really closely together to come up with their own improvement plans and we are seeing the difference this is making for those we provide care for. We still have lots more to achieve but we also have lots to celebrate.”

A patient, who has been cared for by the Community Rapid Response Team, said: “Thank you to all the Crisis Team nurses who attended to my wife two weeks ago; they were all fantastic in their devotion to their job”.

The Nursing Times awards winners will be announced on October 27 in London.

Picture Jen Edgington (far left) and the Community Rapid Response Team