Three Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) nursing-led projects supporting type 2 diabetic patients, people with learning disabilities and parents and carers across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) are all in the running for a prestigious Nursing Times Award.

The LPT finalists are in three award categories, including:

  • Learning disability nurse and clinical research delivery nurse, Sarah Rabbitte, who has been shortlisted in the Clinical Research Nursing category for her work supporting meaningful patient and public involvement in the DECODE (Data-driven machinE-learning aided stratification and management of multiple long-term COnditions in adults with intellectual disabilitiEs) research study
  • Community nurse, Natalie Leggatt who has been shortlisted for a Nursing in the Community Award for her work helping to improve the support for adults with type 2 diabetes to become independent with insulin administration, and
  • the team behind the Healthy Together Helpline, which has been shortlisted in the Public Health Nursing category for the launch of the new health visiting and school nursing helpline, offering same-day support on a range of topics affecting families from a single number.

Each of the projects and nurses nominated have made a real difference to the lives of people living in LLR through their work.

Sarah Rabbitte was able to use her experience and expertise to ensure people with learning disabilities were fully included and supported to take part in the important DECODE research study, which aims to create a new joined-up model of care for people with learning disabilities, to improve their health and wellbeing.

Sarah played a key role in implementing adjustments and the development of resources, so that people with a learning disability were able to participate fully in the research project. These adjustments included Easy Read information leaflets and posters, hosting meetings in accessible locations with pre-paid taxi transport and tailored training sessions, using visual activities and individualised communications support. This allowed people with learning disabilities to contribute meaningfully to the project, ensuring their voices were heard. The approach to patient and public involvement used by Sarah and the study team has been hailed as best practice and other research projects are being encouraged to adopt their approach.

The work carried out by Community Nurse, Natalie Leggatt has helped to transform the lives of people with type 2 diabetes in LLR by upskilling community nurses and developing new resources to support patients to independently manage their insulin administration.

Natalie, who was a student district nurse at the time, led a project to identify the barriers preventing people from managing their insulin. She then addressed these by working with community nurses and people with type 2 diabetes to design new solutions and resources.

The project resulted in the development of new information leaflets, featuring pictorial and Easy Read content, and the introduction of new care plans and an insulin guidance checklist.

The results were so successful, the materials were introduced in other teams across the Trust and the wider LLR care system, including social care, GPs and hospitals.

Both Sarah and Natalie’s project findings will also be shared at the Royal College of Nursing International Nursing Research Conference in September 2024 in Newcastle.

Since its launch in July 2023, The Healthy Together helpline has supported thousands of LLR parents, carers, young people and professionals with health visiting or school nursing related queries.

The helpline provides people with same-day access to health professionals outside of scheduled appointments by calling one number: 0300 300 3001. This has made it  easier and quicker for families to get advice and support, at the time they need it.

The helpline now responds to around 3,500 calls a month on topics affecting babies, children and young people, such as: healthy eating, child development, emotional health, behaviour difficulties and parenting concerns, family health and much more. Calls are answered from 9am – 4.30pm on weekdays, excluding bank holidays.

James Mullins, acting director of nursing, allied health professionals and quality at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, said: “It’s fantastic to have three nurse-led projects, which have made real differences to people’s lives, shortlisted for the Nursing Times Awards this year. We are very proud of everyone involved. All projects demonstrate our innovative approach and commitment to always learning and improving as an organisation to deliver high quality, compassionate and evidence-based care for all.”

The full list of finalists for the Nursing Times Awards 2024 can be found at: www.awards.nursingtimes.net/2024/

The winners will be announced during a ceremony at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane in London on Wednesday 23 October 2024.