PATIENTS who want to say thank you to exceptional nurses, midwives and therapy staff are being asked to make nominations for a special awards event.

The Director of Nursing Awards, DONAs, is a celebration of nursing and midwifery staff who go above and beyond in caring for patients.

Staff at Basingstoke, Winchester and Andover hospitals are eligible, as well as staff from Alton and Bordon community hospitals and those who make home visits to patients.

Nominations for the awards, which will be handed out at a glitzy award ceremony in July, are being welcomed from patients, their families and any other members of the public.

The winners will be selected by a panel of independent public representatives and will be announced at the ceremony on July 13, at The Elvetham Hotel, Hartley Wintney.

Chief Nurse Donna Green said: “If you are a patient or a visitor who has experienced exceptional care in our hospitals or in the community by our staff, or if a member of our staff has made a difference to your life, then I encourage you to put forward a nomination.”

Last year, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Basingstoke, Winchester and Andover hospitals, received more than 250 nominations, and this year organisers are hoping to receive even more nominations.

Nominations can be made until the end of April by visiting hampshirehospitals.nhs.uk, by visiting hospital to collect a nomination form, by calling Karen O’Hanlon on 01256 313435 or by emailing dona@hhft.nhs.uk.

There are two categories for nominations – individual nurse, midwife or therapist or the team award for nursing, midwifery or therapy teams.