Essex nurses claim prizes at journal awards

Nurses from South Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SEPT) won top prizes at The British Journal of Nursing awards in London last month.

Elaine Taylor, nurse consultant for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults, claimed first prize in the mental health nursing category. 'This award demonstrates that the trust offers excellence in areas other than the traditional "mental health services" and has a committed workforce that values the welfare and protection of all clients,' she said.

Trust infection control nurse Kim Shaw, who won first prize for her work in infection prevention, acknowledged the contribution of link nurses across the organisation.

'I would like to acknowledge my keen team of infection control link workers, who have worked so hard to improve the infection control standards for our patients and service users. In name, the trust employs only one infection control nurse, but in reality, it employs 2,000 infection control personnel,' she said.