Naima Horrocks

Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) is an international centre of excellence in child healthcare, and since its formation in 1852, has been dedicated to finding new and better ways to treat childhood illnesses. Most of the children they care for are referred from other hospitals throughout the UK and overseas. There are over 60 different clinical specialties at GOSH; the UK's widest range of specialist health services for children on one site. More than half of the patients come from outside London and GOSH is the largest paediatric centre in the UK for paediatric intensive care, cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, paediatric cancer services including bone marrow transplants, nephrology and renal transplants. Together with their research partner, the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, GOSH forms the UK’s only academic Biomedical Research Centre specialising in paediatrics. GOSH offers a wide prospectus of learning to all staff groups. Together with London South Bank University, they train the largest number of paediatric nurses in the UK. They also play a leading role in training paediatric doctors and other health professionals.

This award aims to recognise and acknowledge the excellent communication skills as well as good clinical knowledge needed to care for this group of patients. The judges will be looking for a final-year student nurse who can advocate for children undergoing acute treatment or with long-term conditions, and their parents or carers. Entrants should be able to demonstrate a high level of nursing knowledge and a special set of skills to help them win the trust of this patient group.