A BIDFORD nurse is in the running to take the prestigious title of St Richard’s Hospice Palliative Care Nurse of the Year.

Wendy Webb from St Richard’s Hospice in Worcester has been shortlisted for The International Journal of Palliative Nursing Awards and will find out if she has won today at a ceremony in London.

Wendy, who lives in Bidford, was nominated for her innovative work and development of her role as the St Richard’s nurse specialist working on weekends and bank holidays.

Wendy identified that an out of hours weekend service was needed to help patients at home who frequently experienced crises during these times.

In September last year Wendy began her work as the weekend St Richard’s nurse specialist and has rapidly developed the service.

Vanessa Gibson, St Richard’s Specialist Nurse Team Leader said, “Wendy is having a huge impact on patients’ quality of life.

“Not only is she able to provide timely psychological and emotional support but also uses her specialist palliative care knowledge to prescribe appropriately and effectively.

“I nominated Wendy as I truly feel that she is challenging the boundaries of the nursing role. Able to assess, prescribe, access urgent medication and administer, Wendy is providing a gold standard service, having a massive, positive impact upon patients, families and colleagues.”

St Richard’s Hospice provides free specialist palliative care for patients living with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses and supports their families.

Each year the hospice team supports more than 2,100 patients and family members in Worcestershire.

Patients are cared for in day hospice, the 16-bed in-patient unit or in their own homes by a specialist professional team as well as many trained volunteers.

The new Snowdrops Community Care Centre which opens next month will allow St Richard’s to expand its services across the community. For more information, visit strichards.org.uk.