Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice’s perinatal team leader Emma Bleasdale has been named ‘Nurse of the year’ in the Nursing Times Awards 2017.
The award was announced at a ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London on 2 November. Over 137 organisations, primarily large hospital trusts, competed for awards across 21 categories.
According to the Nursing Times, the nurse of the year award ‘recognises an individual who has gone above and beyond what is expected of them in their day-to-day role.’
Emma joined Forget Me Not, based in Huddersfield, in 2013 and was the first member of the nursing team to specialise in perinatal care.
She leads a team of seven perinatal nursing and care staff, including Europe’s first hospice-based midwife, which is in turn part of a broader team of 50 nurses, therapists and care assistants at the children’s hospice.
Commenting on her accolade Emma said: ‘I’m absolutely thrilled, although it’s already a privilege to work with an amazing team in support of some truly extraordinary families.
‘We care for these families at the most difficult times in their lives, ensuring they can experience precious moments and build the sort of memories the rest of us take for granted. I’m very proud to be part of a dedicated team, which does genuinely pioneering work on behalf of babies, children and families.’
Forget Me Not’s CEO Peter Branson said: ‘Emma’s award recognises the importance of the perinatal work we do – acknowledging that a family’s journey begins well before a baby is born. Our perinatal service has attracted attention from around the world and I hope more and more hospices will start to offer these services as standard.’
