Seaton home nursing team speak of their joy at receiving the accolade.

The winners of the first Healthcare Hero awards have spoken of their joy at receiving the accolade.

The Seaton Home Nursing Team, Helen Wellstead, Caroline Shuttleworth, Liz Livingstone and Caitlin Bodington, received a flurry of nominations from the public following the launch of the awards by the Midweek Herald in partnership with the Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust.

They were praised for their kindness, support, compassion and understanding by those who nominated the team.

Liz Livingstone said: “It is a real honour that our patients and people we look after have said thank you and it is very much appreciated. I am personally pleased to be nominated and winning the award highlights how important palliative care is and that money needs to go into it, and also the value of the service.

“We also need to thank Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust for making the award possible.”

A similar service was in existence up until 2004 but was stopped due to staffing. It was restarted by GPs with the help of Seaton and District Hospital League of Friends, and has gone from strength to strength ever since.

The service is funded by the League of Friends and the team say it could not do the work it does without its help.

Dr Joe Pitt on behalf of Seaton and District Hospital League of Friends said: “We are absolutely delighted that the team have got the award. It is fantastic and thoroughly deserved.”

The home nursing team will be expanding shortly after the League of Friends agreed to fund another nurse.

Dr Pitt added: “We are pleased to support the service as it stands and finance the planned expansion of the service.”

The nursing team say they would like to see the service made available to other areas.

According to figures 92 per cent of patients, referred to the home nursing team, die at home – the national average is only 27 per cent.

The nursing team offer shelter to patients and their families in and around Seaton who are experiencing the effects of a life-limiting illness.

Helen, Caroline, Liz and Caitlin will be presented with their award at a special ceremony at Seaton Hospital on May 10, which coincides with the hospital’s 25th anniversary.