A TEAM of health workers for Bradford Royal Infirmary whose "care and compassion shone through" when caring for a seriously-ill woman has won an award.

The group, which works in BRI's labour ward, received the Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's Team of the Year award for 2014.

During this year, the team worked alongside staff from the hospital's palliative care unit in supporting first-time mother Nasreen Akhtar after she discovered she had cancer.

The group drew up a care plan for the baby’s birth and, as 36-year-old Nasreen’s cancer advanced, arranged for her baby to be born via caesarean.

Sheila Nolan, midwifery matron, said: "Unfortunately the initial plan to discharge Nasreen from the maternity unit following the birth of her baby, so she could continue her treatment, never happened because it became clear that she was too ill to continue with her planned treatment."

Then, a team of specialists devised a care plan that allowed Nasreen to be nursed on the labour ward with the support of the hospital’s chaplaincy team.

The proximity of the labour ward to the neonatal unit next door meant that Nasreen could have easy access to her baby at any time of the day or night. The team also set aside a special room where Nasreen’s family and husband, Waseem, could gather for daily prayers.

Nasreen was nursed on the labour ward for more than a month until she died.

Mrs Nolan added: "This joint team effort really enshrined the values of NHS chief nurse Jane Cummings’ six Cs strategy of care, compassion, competence, communication, courage and commitment. Staff even worked extra shifts so Nasreen could have continuity of care with people she was familiar with.

"Our award is dedicated to Nasreen and her family whose courage in the face of adversity shone through and we were only too happy to adapt our nursing and medical practices so that she could spend quality time with her new-born baby.

"Nasreen shall forever remain in our hearts and it was a real privilege to care for her. She has had a profound effect on the team and we will never forget her or her baby."

The team will put their £5,000 winnings back into their work on the labour ward.

Sovereign Health Care Charitable Trust supports the Foundation Trust's awards. Chief executive Russ Piper said: "It goes without saying that while congratulating this year’s Team of the Year we also acknowledge the poignancy behind this year’s award.

"It really does put the saying ‘going the extra mile’ into a whole different league. The care you have given this patient and her family has been amazing and I commend you for it."

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