A FORMER solicitor turned children’s nurse has picked up an award for excellence on the same day that he graduated.

Peter Busby, from Spennymoor, County Durham, had a “massive change of heart” when in 2013 he decided to swap law courts for hospital wards.

He had been inspired by his wife, also a children’s nurse, after seeing how much she loved her job.

The 33-year-old received the ‘Heath Award’ for excellence in nursing studies and practice after graduating from Newcastle’s Northumbria University with a first class degree in children’s nursing.

The award was established in 1892 by George Yeoman Heath, former President of the Royal College of Medicine, and is presented each year to the best nurses and midwives graduating from the university’s nursing and midwifery programmes.

Mr Busby who qualified as a nurse in March, now works in the paediatric intensive care unit at The Great North Children’s Hospital, part of Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary.

He said: “Last time I graduated from Northumbria University, it was with a law degree. Now I’m graduating as a nurse and I couldn’t be more proud.

“We weren’t sure how things might turn out when I decided to make the leap, but it’s worked out brilliantly and I couldn’t be happier.

“I love my job, I feel like I’m really making a difference, especially working in intensive care. The work is demanding, but I get great satisfaction and really embrace it.”