SOLENT NHS Trust nurses celebrate winning prestigious awards.

Two of Solent's nurses picked up awards at the Nursing Times Awards in London on October 31.

Debbie Fudge, tuberculosis liaison nurse, won the Infection Prevention Award, and Sharon Simpson, older person's mental health research nurse, won the Clinical Research Nursing Award.

The Nursing Times Awards brings together nurses and organisations from across the profession to celebrate and honor achievements in the fields, with 23 categories up for grabs this year.

Sue Harriman, Solent NHS Trust chief executive, said: “We are incredibly proud of Debbie and Sharon, and thrilled that they have been recognised and awarded for their dedication, passion and innovation.

"The awards are a real accolade and recognition of the commitment both Debbie and Sharon show to patient experience and outcomes. The awards, once again, recognise the leading role we play in community and mental health research and the innovation and passion we demonstrate in out of hospital services. Huge congratulations and a big thank you!”

Debbie Fudge was nominated in the Infection Prevention and Control category for her work in moving tuberculosis (TB) screening into GP surgeries, helping GPs to identify and screen people at risk.

Her team have scanned 1,350 people in two years, and 202 people received a positive result, and have been treated, meaning they're unlikely to get the disease, hopefully reducing the rate of TB in Southampton.

Sharon Simpson was nominated in the Clinical Research Nursing Award for her work at introducing research in care homes. She has worked with staff and families to give a voice to those who are seldom heard. 500 participants have been recruited to a number of different studies, with the research supporting the trusts ambition to offer more people more opportunities to be involved in research in the community.