Nurses, health visitor and midwives presented with Mary Seacole Awards

Published: 22 October 2008

Six outstanding nurses, health visitors and midwives were today presented with Mary Seacole Leadership and Development Awards at a ceremony held at the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) national headquarters in London.

The successful nurses, midwives and health visitors were presented with their awards by Joan Saddler, National Director for Patient and Public Affairs at the Department of Health. There was also a personal message of congratulations for the award winners from Ann Keen MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health. A speech on the book Many Rivers to Cross which details the various contributions black and ethnic minority communities have made to the NHS was also given by guest speaker Dr Nola Ishamel OBE.

The awards are jointly funded by the Department of Health and NHS Employers. They provide an opportunity to nurses, midwives and health visitors to undertake a year-long project or an educational/development activity, to enhance patient-focused care. Winners of the leadership award will receive a bursary of £12,500, and the two development awards winners receive a bursary of £6,250.
The awards were jointly hosted by the Department of Health, NHS Employers, RCN, Royal College of Midwives, UNISON and Unite/CPHVA.
The new 2008 winners

Ofrah Muflahi, Haemoglobinopathies Nurse, Dudley NHS Primary Care Trust. Project: Improving the health of children and young adults living with sickle disease and thalassaemia

Pamela Shaw, Health Visitor and Practice Educator, Wakefield District Primary Care Trust. Project: Recording the positive contributions of black and minority ethnic professionals to the NHS – a way forward for diversity training and education.

Gloria Urhoma, Practice Development, Midwife, Wexham Park Hospital. Project: Developing a maternity information video for non-English speaking ethnic minority women accessing maternity care

The following 2007 winners who have successful completed their project were presented with their award certificates by Ms Saddler at the ceremony:

Leadership award winner: Bev Thomas, Matron, Queen’s Hospital, Romford. Project: Engaging staff to deliver patient centred high dependency care in a reconfigured neurosurgical ward.

Leadership award winner: Stella Sebuwufu, HIV midwife, Mayday NHS Trust. Project: Improving the maternity services for HIV positive women.

Development award winner: Gill Houghton, Midwife, Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust. Project: Developing an informational DVD for maternity care.

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Notes to Editors

Pictures from the ceremony and further information is available, please contact the RCN Media Office on 0207 647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit http://www.rcn.org.uk/news/mediacentre.php

Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.