Which South Shields nurse has been hailed a '˜fountain of knowledge'?

Andrew Hill, a senior nurse practitioner on the South Tyneside Acute Care Team, has been nominated for a Best of Health Nurse of the Year Award by fellow carers.

The annual awards which are being held jointly across Sunderland and South Tyneside for the first time this year, honour outstanding people in the health profession.

Mr Hill, 50, from South Shields, works for the South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust and predominately deals with elderly patients in their homes as well as in nursing and residential care homes.

A colleague who put him forward for the accolade said: “Andy is a fountain of knowledge and is forever sharing this with others on our team. He teaches me. a student nurse, and no question is ever a silly one to ask him. I have never seen anything other than complete professionalism from him and he is wonderful with patients. They all love him.

“In a service that has had a lot of changes recently and is a rock to other staff.”

On his nomination the dad-of three said: “I am chuffed to have been nominated. One of the best things about the job is teaching students and colleagues.

“Its something that I had a really good experience of when I was training 32 years ago and something that I love to do myself now.
“In my role I normally work with a junior member of staff and it is lovely to teach them as they are like sponges and soak up all the information.

“I am also a mentor and we all take turns to work with students who have been assigned to the team.”

Mr Hill has vast experience in the health profession, having worked as a matron for 10 years looking after people with long term conditions.

He has also worked as a mental health nurse.

He added: “My dad was a nurse in the sixties and becoming a nurse is something that I always wanted to do.
“I am over the moon to be nominated.”

Sponsors for this year’s awards are South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust, City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, mydentist, NHS Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group and the Quality Hotel Boldon.

There are a range of categories to nominate someone for and once the nominations are in, a shortlist will be drawn up.

Finalists will then be invited to a finale at the Quality Hotel, in Boldon, on Thursday, April 27.

There are lots of categories to choose from, so there’s no excuse not to put your own health hero in the running for honours.

To nominate someone for an award, just send your name, address and telephone number, as well as your email address, if applicable.

Remember to include the category you are putting your nominated cause into.

Also send the name of the person you wish to nominate, along with their address, telephone number and email (if known).

Send all of that to Lynn Wild by no later than April 7.

Email those entries to [email protected] or send them to Lynn Wild, Alexander House, Second Floor, Rainton Bridge Business Park, Houghton-le-Spring, Sunderland, DH4 5RA.

THE CATEGORIES

Let’s start with the categories where we will be choosing two winners, one for Sunderland and one for South Tyneside.

l GP of the Year/GP Practice of the Year.

l Hospital Doctor of the Year.

l Nurse of the Year.

l Dental Practice of the Year/ Dentist of the Year.

l Optometrist of the Year.

l Therapist of the Year.

l Midwife of the year.

l Customer Service/Unsung Hero of the Year.

l Long term achievement.

There will be one winner - covering all areas - chosen in the following categories.

l Care Worker of the Year.

l Pharmacist of the Year.

l Dental Nurse of the Year.

1 Team of the Year.

And there is one category where a winner will be chosen for South Tyneside only.

l Community Nurse of the Year.