Our nursing associate Alina Stevens was named Patient Advocate of the Year in the Patient Experience Network National Awards, held in Birmingham on Wednesday 20 March.

Alina, who works in our Dementia team was nominated for her work to support vulnerable patients. It began when one patient, Betty, was anxious about what to do with her sensory aids during surgery. Alina found a place to keep them, then, realising it would be an issue for many more people, designed and made her own box to keep items like glasses and hearing aids in, for the benefit of all patients.

Sara Turle, a patient partner at our Trust, won for her outstanding contribution to patient care. Herself a cancer patient nine years ago, Sara has worked tirelessly alongside colleagues in our Trust to improve the experience for fellow patients at both our hospitals.

And our Specialist Palliative Care team was named runner-up in the Integration and Continuation of Care category. This was in recognition of their collaborative work with nursing homes, which is helping to get elderly patients out of hospital quicker and improving the coordination of care.

Overall, we were finalist in five categories of the annual awards. Our Specialist Palliative Care team was also shortlisted for Personalistion of Care thanks to Dennis’ Den, a private room for palliative care patients to spend time with their families, and in the Turning it Around category, alongside our Mortuary and Oncology teams, for their work to provide dignified care after death.

Our Trust’s Collar and Brace Aftercare Service (CBACS) was also a finalist.

Pictured are Alina (top) and Sara (bottom) being presented with their awards.