Accolades go to nursing champs

11:59am Wednesday 14th May 2008

BASINGSTOKE'S NHS and private hospitals are among the UK's best places for nurses to work, according to a national survey.

Basingstoke hospital and the BMI Hampshire Clinic, in Basing Road, Old Basing, have been ranked as among the best employers by The Nursing Times' top 100 employers for 2008.

Julie Berry, director of nursing for the Old Basing clinic, said: "I'm absolutely delighted! We are a small hospital, so it was great to be included in that.

"We value our staff and try to ensure that nurses at BMI Hampshire Clinic have a challenging and rewarding career."

For the survey, nurses had to submit questionnaires, followed up with phone calls to verify what they said.

The survey looks at best employment practice - including strong nursing leadership, flexible, family-friendly practices and mentorship.

Donna Green, nursing director at Basingstoke hospital, said: "This is a great accolade for our Foundation Trust and will help us continue to appoint high-calibre nursing staff."

She added that the deadline for nominations for the hospital's own director of nursing awards scheme is drawing closer.

She said members of the public and patients can nominate individual nurses, midwives or nursing/midwifery teams.

Nomination forms, which must be submitted by the end of May, are available from www.northampshire.nhs.uk or by calling Karen O'Hanlon on 01256 313435 or e-mailing her on karen.ohanlon@bnhft.nhs.uk

The awards ceremony will be held on July 17.

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