Health Minister Invites Nominations For Nursing Awards

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Also Included In: Mental Health;  Psychology / Psychiatry
Article Date: 18 Dec 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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Fourth annual awards to recognise mental health and learning disability nurses

Health Minister Edwina Hart today encouraged patients and staff to nominate mental health and learning disability nurses for a top Welsh award.

The annual award scheme, which is now in its fourth year, aims to recognise the significant - but often overlooked - contribution of mental health and learning disability nurses to the NHS in Wales.

The awards are intended for individuals or teams that are working within mental health, child and adolescent mental health services, and learning disability services within NHS Wales. This year's awards are being expanded to highlight the role of nurses in child and adolescent mental health services as well as a new award voted for by patients.

Mrs Hart said: "I presented last year's awards and was extremely impressed by the standard of nominations and the winning entrants. I know that the judges had a difficult time in coming up with the winners. That shows the exceptional work that goes on every day in caring for some of the most vulnerable people in society.

"Often the work of mental health nurses and learning disability nurses gets overlooked, but they have an important role to play in the health service.

"The awards recognize the significant contribution that nurses are making to modernize our mental health and learning disability services.

"I would encourage anyone - whether you are a colleague or a patient - to consider nominating a mental health or learning disability nurse. I have no doubt the quality of entrants will be as high as last year."

The awards will be presented by the new Chief Executive of NHS Wales Paul Williams at a ceremony at the All Nations Centre, Cardiff on 26 March 2008.

John Abbott of Hafal and from the Wales Alliance for Mental Health (WAMH), which brings together charities working in the field of mental health in Wales, added: "The Wales Alliance for Mental Health welcomes the decision to recognise the very important role played by mental health nurses in supporting and aiding the recovery of people with a mental illness in Wales. "WAMH is very pleased to offer its support in raising awareness of this award and encourages nominations from across Wales."

Notes

1. Nominations should be made by Nurse Executives and/or relevant Senior Nurses within NHS Trusts or Local Health Boards within NHS Wales. Self-nominations will not be considered. The deadline for nominations is 23 January 2009.

2. Nominations for the new patient selected award are being dealt with separately by the Wales Alliance for Mental Health and should be sent to johnabbott@hafal.org or to John Abbott at Hafal, Suite C2, William Knox House, Britannic Way, Llandarcy, Neath SA10 6EL. An independent panel of judges selected by the Wales Alliance for Mental Health will review the nominations and select the winner. The deadlines for nominations for this award is 31 January 2009.

Wales Alliance for Mental Health