THE time has come to honour the region’s Florence Nightingales who have gone beyond the call of duty as nurses and midwives.

Nominations are now open for the annual Nightingale Awards, which seek to honour the selfless efforts of nursing staff.

Members of the public are now being asked to share stories that highlight exceptional dedication and notable examples of patient-centred care.

The awards are held every year around the time of Florence Nightingale’s birthday, with winners from several categories to be announced in May.

Nominees must be a member of the South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust and can be nominated by patients or their relatives, peers, colleagues, managers or mentors.

Jayne Mudd, a nurse consultant at The James Cook University Hospital involved in co-ordinating the 2017 event, said: “Every year at our Nightingale Awards we are reminded of the dedication and selfless nature of our nurses and midwives, who go above and beyond the call of duty every day to provide the best care for our patients.

“It is always a very uplifting event, featuring touching patient stories - which remind us all of why we came into the profession in the first place - and every single nurse who is shortlisted for a prize has given something very special to the patient or patients who have nominated them.”

Last year’s winner of the coveted Nightingale Award was Ann Marie Pryde, assistant practitioner on the neonatal unit at Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital.

Ms Pryde was recognised after writing a book for the siblings of poorly babies on the unit.

To make a nomination or for further information, visit southtees.nhs.uk/about/awards/nightingale.