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Posted on 13 Jul 2023

Two Nottinghamshire nurses have been recognised in the Nursing Times Awards for their outstanding work.

Nottinghamshire Healthcare and NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) have been shortlisted for the Nursing Times Dame Elizabeth Anionwu Award for inclusivity in nursing and midwifery.

The shortlisted project, led by Primary Care Liaison Nurse Helen Webster, is focused on improving the uptake and quality of annual health checks for the Black and ethnic minority learning disability population of Nottingham.

Rachel Croll, Trauma Informed Midwife, has been shortlisted in the Midwife of the Year category. Rachel, employed by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, was nominated for the work she has done in establishing a trauma informed midwifery role within the Nottinghamshire Healthcare’s Perinatal Trauma and Bereavement Service, which has been invaluable to the team.

Helen explained her project: “Our work involves engaging with communities where uptake of the health checks is low and to better understand the barriers people face to getting their annual health check. We are also raising awareness of the checks and supporting people to attend their GP through the use of reasonable adjustments, including easy read appointment letters and appointments at less busy times.”

The Primary Care Liaison Nurses Team (PCLN) were given funding to provide a nurse to provide focused, targeted outreach support to our ethnic minority learning disability population. This includes identifying and engaging with individuals from the ethnic minority communities who have not had a health check. They also had relevant documents translated to help communication with the most commonly spoken languages in Nottingham and used interpreters on the visits.

Helen added: “We can arrange for health checks at suitable locations including people’s own homes and day centres, to ensure they are as comfortable as possible. We will also try to rebuild a relationship between them and their GP to ensure they get ongoing care. We also make sure that supporting materials such as health action plans are available in the different languages needed.”

Rachel Croll, Trauma Informed Midwife, has been shortlisted for the fantastic work she does within the Trust’s Perinatal Trauma and Bereavement Service. The Nottinghamshire Perinatal Trauma and Bereavement Service (PTBS) offers therapy and support for anyone experiencing mental health difficulties relating to a perinatal trauma or bereavement.

Rachel has been able to integrate her skills and knowledge in midwifery with her skills and knowledge in mental health to create a role that has transformed many people’s experiences of maternity care. Not only this but she has the most calming, considerate and compassionate approach to her work. She helps the most vulnerable of women navigate maternity systems including those who have experienced perinatal loss, birth trauma and those with a severe fear of childbirth. Her work ensures that people going through the maternity system feel supported, listened to and cared for.

Rachel commented: “I’m really honoured to be shortlisted in this award. I am passionate about my job and my experience as a midwife working in the hospitals means I have witnessed some of the traumas that patients have been through, so truly understand and want to support them as best as I can.”

Nottinghamshire Healthcare’s Chief Operating Officer, Becky Sutton, said: “Congratulations to Helen and Rachel, both are doing such important work. Helen’s work is crucial in supporting inclusivity for this vulnerable community of people, and in delivering equality of care. Rachels work in our Perinatal Trauma and Bereavement Service means patients are getting the best care possible, tailored to their needs, which is so incredibly important.”

“We are very proud of both of them and wish them both the best of luck for the next stage.”

The Nursing Times Awards will be presented on 25 October 2023.