TONIGHT is when honours will be handed out to some of the dedicated nursing staff at Basingstoke hospital.

Patients and visitors have nominated more than 140 individuals or teams who have most impressed them.

The winners will this evening be honoured at the fourth annual Director of Nursing Awards at Sherfield School in Sherfield-on-Loddon.

Donna Green, the hospital’s nursing director for Basingstoke and North Hampshire NHS Foundation Trust, said the awards would be given to those who have impressed nominees with their compassion and professionalism.

She added: “I am delighted that so many members of the public have got involved by nominating those who, in their eyes, really deserve this acknowledgement.

“It is often the small things that really make a difference to an individual patient and their family. So with these awards, we recognise the hard work, achievements and real contribution that nurses and midwives make to the care of patients.”

About 170 guests, including patients, nurses, and healthcare assistants, will gather at the school from 6.30pm.

This year there will also be two overall winner presentations.

As in past years, there will be a presentation of a rose bowl award,|sponsored by the Rotary Club of Basingstoke Deane, and this year John Daniels will also be presenting the Elizabeth Daniels award in memory of his late mother, who was a patient at the hospital.

See The Thursday Gazette on July 23 for reports and pictures from the Director of Nursing Awards 2009.