A registered mental health nurse from Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust has received the international DAISY Award for the outstanding compassionate and sensitive care she has provided for patients.

Leanne Taylor, Senior Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist, was nominated for the award by a patient for the care she has delivered.

The DAISY Awards are an international recognition programme that honours and celebrates the exceptional care that many nurses and midwives provide every day.

Part of her nomination reads: “As a Non-Binary adult I have often found within most areas of the NHS there is a lack of understanding or consideration towards my needs, but Leanne always delivered queer friendly, patient-centred care throughout my therapy. She has renewed my faith in healthcare that I can be treated as an individual.

“Leanne took the time to teach me many different techniques I can use to help combat negative thoughts and emotions so that even after therapy I can still continue the self-esteem improving work that she started with me. She would always explain things about me and about my treatments in ways that I could fully understand.”

Leanne received her award from Dr Anne Scott, executive director of nursing, allied health professionals and quality accompanied by Leanne’s nominator. She has also received a DAISY pin badge and “Healer’s Touch” sculpture funded by LPT’s charity Raising Health.

Leanne shared: “I feel immensely proud. I think I actually feel more pride from receiving this award than any of my degrees. It has shown me that the work I do is having a positive impact, and that I am getting it right.

“Nursing is a rewarding career and I have found it has given meaning to my life, more so than any other job I have done.”

You can thank your nurse by making a DAISY Award nomination here: www.leicspart.nhs.uk/about/daisy-award/

An acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System, The DAISY Foundation was formed in America in November 1999, by the family of J. Patrick Barnes who died at age 33 of complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). The nursing care Patrick received when hospitalised profoundly touched his family.

You can find out more about the DAISY Foundation on their website: www.daisyfoundation.org/

Each DAISY Award honouree is recognised at a ceremony in their ward or department and receives a DAISY Award pin, certificate and a hand-carved sculpture A Healer’s Touch, funded by LPT’s charity Raising Health.