A team of nurses from Altnagelvin Hospital have been nominated for a UK-wide prestigious award.
Alison Cairns, Caroline McCloskey and Bridgeen Canning are the Home Therapies Team who work in the Renal Unit at Altnagelvin Hospital.
They are the only nurses from Northern Ireland to be nominated for the UK-wide prestigious Nurse of the Year Patients Choice Award for their ‘dedication and commitment to patients’.
The Patient's Choice Award is for members of the public to thank a nurse, midwife, health visitor, healthcare assistant or assistant practitioner who has made a real difference to their or a loved one's healthcare.
Commenting, Ms Cairns said her team are 'a bit overwhelmed and totally shocked' to be nominated for the award.
The team were nominated by Carmel McMonagle and her husband Joe for their ‘dedication and commitment to patients’.
Ms McMonagle was on dialysis for seven years after having her kidneys removed when she was diagnosed with cancer.
Her husband, Joe, then donated one of his kidneys and the couple embarked on their recovery together with the help of the Renal Home Therapies Team.
They said that the care shown to them and the help given from Ms Cairns, Ms McCloskey and Ms Canning helped them through a difficult time.
“It has been such a journey,” said Ms McGonagle.
“Without the home therapies team I don't know how I would have coped.
“These nurses made sure I knew what was going on, and that I was able to get on with my life.”
The judges for this category are only responsible for deciding the five finalists.
The winner is then decided by public vote and will be announced at the Awards ceremony on Wednesday 4 July.
Voting is now open so you can vote for the Altnagelvin Hospital Renal Home Therapies Team.
To cast your vote go online to www.rcni.com/nurse-awards/patients-choice-voting and vote for the Derry-based team.
Voting will stay open until midnight on Friday 8 June.
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