TWO teams of Basingstoke nursing staff have been put forward by the area’s MP for an award.

Based out of two Basingstoke hospitals, the teams have been nominated for the NHS Parliamentary Awards by members of staff and the public.

Basingstoke's MP, Maria Miller presented the Basingstoke Cardiac Rehabilitation Team, based at Basingstoke hospital, and the Elmwood Ward team, based in Parklands Hospital with their nominations at the Mayor’s Parlour in the civic offices in.

The Basingstoke Cardiac Rehabilitation Team helps people who have had problems with their heart or those who have just had heart surgery to get back on their feet.

They achieve this through the combination of both physical and mental rehabilitation, including through exercise programmes and education seminars.

Medical secretary and administrator for the rehabilitation team, Annette Haley, said: “It is lovely and we’ve got a good team here.

“Most patients are so thankful for the service and the public recognition with the nomination is the icing on the cake.

“The team always have a smile on their faces and you see that day in, day out.”

Elmwood Ward, based at Parklands hospital, is a specialist area to help older people with mental health needs, including dementia.

Consultant psychiatrist on the ward, Dr Raja Badrakalimuthu, said: “This is great for those patients and their family members at the ward.

“We help them be as comfortable as they can be as we give them end-of-life care. Patients families have sung our praises before, and some of them have come back as volunteers

.”

Mrs Miller added: “It doesn’t surprise me that we have excellent services, and I want to call everyone to action and nominate next year.”

The NHS Parliamentary Awards recognise the massive contributions made by individuals and teams who work in and alongside the NHS.

Nominees will initially be judged by senior and regional NHS experts to find regional champions in each category they have been nominated for, to be announced later this month.

Regional champions will then be judged by a panel, with the winners announced at an awards ceremony in Parliament on July 10.