Awards nominations for Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital has been shortlisted for two prestigious awards for developing schemes that improve the care of patients with learning difficulties and help disadvantaged people into jobs.

The university hospital has been shortlisted in the Patient Pathway category for the Nursing Times Awards 2010 for work to improve staff awareness and skills when looking after people with learning difficulties and work with people with learning difficulties to improve their understanding of coming to hospital. Last year the Neonatal nursing team at NNUH won the Nursing Times 2009 award for Team of the Year.

The hospital has also been shortlisted in the Community Impact category of the EDP Business Awards. The shortlisting reflect’s the hospital’s partnership in the new academy at Costessey, work with partner agencies developing a project with Serco, City College Norwich, Social Services and Remploy, which helps young people with learning difficulties get jobs, and work with the Princes Trust to help young long-term unemployed people and the homeless into works.

Project Search has been visited by a succession of government ministers and is now being used as a model around the country for preparing young people with learning difficulties for the workplace.

Deputy Director of Nursing Carol Edwards said “We are delighted to be shortlisted for these awards. A huge amount of work has gone on across a wide variety of departments and with partner organisations to develop these schemes. They bring real benefits to us and to the local community and we’re proud to have these achievements recognised.”

The final of the EDP Business Awards takes place on October 8 and the final of the Nursing Times awards takes place on November 3.