NURSES working on the urology, cardiology, and children's wards across Oxford University Hospitals are among the first to be honoured with prestigious DAISY Foundation Awards.

The scheme allows patients, their families and colleagues to nominate a registered nurse or midwife who has made a real difference by going above and beyond to deliver outstanding clinical care to their patients.

A total of 6 nurses have so far been honoured with a DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune SYstem) award since the trust joined worldwide initiative in May.

The most recent nurses are Elise Longworth, of Robin's Ward, Oxford Children's Hospital, Hugo Sanguinho, of the Urology Ward at the Churchill Hospital, and Becky Pearce of the John Radcliffe Cardiology Ward, Chris Rigozzi, an MS Specialist Nurse in Neurosciences at the JR, and Elizabeth Sims, who works in the Hepatology Outpatients department at the JR.

Recipients of DAISY awards are 'surprised' on the ward they work on by Chief Nurse Sam Foster, and are presented with an award pin, certificate and hand-carved sculpture called 'A Healer's Touch'.

Nurse Louise Garrett, based on F Ward at the Horton General Hospital in Banbury, was the first at the trust to scoop an award in October 2018.

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OUH chief nurse Sam Foster said: "We have had a wonderful response since we launched our DAISY Awards last year, and have received many inspiring and moving nominations from staff and patients.

"It has been an honour to hand out these awards to such deserving staff who have gone above and beyond to deliver skilful and compassionate care across our hospitals."

Mr Sanguinho was nominated for showing ‘extraordinary’ empathy and compassion towards his nominator, an anonymous patient admitted to the Urology Ward with kidney and urinary problems.

He said: “I never thought that I would be nominated for this award because we have a huge number of nurses in Oxford, with different backgrounds and experiences. When I saw the DAISY award banner in Urology Triage, I was speechless.

“It is not every day that something beautiful happens. I couldn’t be more delighted and honoured.”

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Fellow winner Elise Longworth (pictured above), a nurse on Robin's Ward, which specialises in paediatric neurosciences and specialist surgery, was nominated by Annette Martin, whose six-week-old twins were admitted to hospital with fractured skulls.

Mrs Martin said: "Elise read the situation perfectly and offered lots of tea and sympathy.

"She offered to look after the twins for me when she had quieter moments. This was hugely generous of her as I know staff are really busy.

"I named Elise 'Saint Elise' as she truly was my angel.

"The whole team was incredible. I felt our twins were safe and cared for but the real difference was having a compassionate hug, sensing when I was about to break. Thank you, Elise."

Nurse Louise Garrett, based on F Ward at the Horton General Hospital in Banbury, was the first at the trust to scoop an award in October 2018.

To make a nomination, you can download a form at www.ouh.nhs.uk/working-for-us/nursing-midwifery/daisy-awards/