Plymouth nurse praised for going the extra mile to help cancer patients

'She is a tower of strength and a listening ear'

A Plymouth nurse hailed as a "tower of strength" and an "inspiration" has been praised for going the extra mile to help people with cancer. Anna Wilson is dedicated to making improvements for patients - including taking on clinics to cut waiting times for those diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Anna, who is lead cancer nurse practitioner at Derriford Hospital, has now been honoured with a University Hospitals Plymouth VIP Award. She was nominated by a colleague who said she was "everything a nurse and leader should be".

Charlotte Burgoyne, clinical admin manager, said in her submission: "Anna is everything a nurse and leader should be. She is a tower of strength, a listening ear and a champion of our well-being and the well-being of patients. She is a shiny beacon of the trusts core values."

Anna was joined by her team at the Chestnut Urology Investigation Unit as she was presented with the VIP Award, She said: "Thank you! This is very unexpected, and you all caught me by surprise today. I just think I’m really lucky, because we have a really amazing team, and I don’t think I could half of what I do without the team.

"I think we’re very fortunate that we look after each other. Now that we have got the new unit, hopefully, we can continue to make things better for our patients."

The VIP Awards were launched at the end of last year, with staff and patients invited to submit nominations to celebrate and recognise hard work. Bosses say they are an opportunity to nominate more junior or "hidden" staff who may otherwise go unnoticed in clinical and non-clinical roles.

Mark Hackett, interim chief executive at University Hospitals Plymouth, told Anna as he presented her with the award: "You have been nominated because you do put values into practice. That is a huge credit to you, you are a real role model for your colleagues and for nurses.

“You are very patient focused, which is helpful, but you have been clear on how you communicate what needs to be done and what the expectations are of people. It is clear that you are very supportive to your staff and look after their wellbeing and their interests at work and their experiences."

To submit a nomination visit the VIP Award website. The next winner will be announced this autumn.

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