Nurse wins national award

Rebecca Warren, who is in charge of the nursing team in the Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries at the Oswestry-based hospital, was announced as a winner at the prestigious Cavell Awards in June but was unable to attend the event as her grandfather was seriously ill.

He has since sadly passed away, and she dedicated the award in his memory when it was presented at a special ceremony at the hospital.

The 34-year-old, who is also an Army Reservist who serves as a Staff Sergeant in the 202 (Midlands) Field Hospital, won the Outstanding QARANC Reservist Clinical Professional Development Award. The category was sponsored by the Queen Alexandra Royal Army Nursing Corps .

She said: "My Gramps was my world and I was heartbroken when he fell ill,” she said.

“He passed away last month and it has been so hard for me, but I know how proud he was of what I have achieved in my career and wherever he is now, he’ll be smiling. He really made me the person I am today, so I want to dedicate this award to him.

“When I first found out I had won this award a couple of months ago, he was the first person I wanted to tell, and even though he was going through such a horrible time it really brightened his day.”

Rebecca’s award was one of 10 presented at the sixth annual Cavell Awards, which celebrate the best and brightest in UK nursing. It recognises and celebrates Rebecca for her leadership and dedication to her reserve and civilian nursing roles.

The award comes with £2,000 prize money, which Rebecca is hoping to use to further her career development as an Army Reserve Nurse.

Mark Brandreth, Chief Executive of RJAH, said: “I’d like to say well done to Rebecca - the Trust is very proud to have her in our ranks and this award is very well deserved.

“Rebecca has had a tough time of late but I know she has been able to gather strength from the support she has received from her second family at RJAH.