Blog by Karen Wares, IPS Research and Development Committee Member/Scotland Branch Member
It was an absolute pleasure to be involved in judging the British Journal of Nursing Award for Infection Prevention Nurse of the Year, sponsored by the Infection Prevention Society. This prestigious award recognises the exceptional dedication and innovative practices of nurses who go above and beyond to improve infection prevention and patient care.
Nick Hughes and I had the privilege of judging this year’s nominees, and although Nick was unable to attend the awards ceremony, I was honoured to be accompanied by Danel Meno, the 2024 Infection Prevention Nurse of the Year. Together, with our finalists, we celebrated the achievements of some truly outstanding professionals in the field.
The BJN Awards celebrate excellence in nursing across many fields, recognising those who make a difference in their specialties and contribute to advancing patient care. The Infection Prevention category is one of the many areas acknowledged during the event. The awards ceremony itself was hosted by comedian Matt Forde, who brought great energy and humour to the evening. Matt also brought a personal touch, sharing his own healthcare story about living with a stoma following life-changing cancer surgery. I expressed relief that during his healthcare journey, he did not acquire an infection, highlighting the crucial role of infection prevention in patient care.
We were delighted to announce Helen Ronchetti, Deputy Head of Service – Infection Prevention at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, as the Gold Award Winner. Helen’s exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and commitment to embedding best practices in infection prevention have made a significant impact across her organisation. A standout initiative led by Helen is the highly successful “No Catheter November” campaign, aimed at reducing catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) and E. coli rates. By working closely with the bladder and bowel service, district nursing team, and antimicrobial pharmacist, she has driven a reduction in CAUTIs within primary care. Helen also spearheaded the community ‘trial without catheter’ initiative, which focuses on safely removing urinary catheters as early as possible, allowing patients to remain at home rather than attending urology outpatient appointments. This approach not only improves patient mobility and dignity but also reduces unnecessary hospital visits, making a real difference to patient quality of life.
Helen’s leadership is inspiring not only within her team but across the wider healthcare community, setting a high standard for infection prevention practices and demonstrating how targeted initiatives can transform patient outcomes.
Martina Cummins, Clinical Director of Infection Prevention and Control at Barts Health, received the Silver Award. Martina was recognised for her leadership in implementing infection prevention measures that significantly reduced healthcare-associated infections across her career. The award also marks a special milestone as Martina has recently retired after a long and impactful career dedicated to infection prevention.
Sharon Reed, Deputy Director of Infection Prevention and Control at University Hospitals Sussex, was honoured with the Bronze Award for her commitment to creating safer environments for patients and staff. Sharon’s initiatives have helped foster a proactive culture of infection prevention within her organisation. Her dedication to continuous improvement and her collaborative approach to infection prevention practices have made a significant difference within her healthcare setting, earning the respect and admiration of her peers.
Congratulations to all the nominees and winners for their inspiring work. IPS is proud to support and celebrate the achievements of nurses who make such a vital difference in healthcare.
A special thank you to those who took the time to nominate their peers. Your recognition and support of colleague’s help shine a light on the incredible work being done in infection prevention nursing. Ou finalists expressed how surprised and valued they felt to be nominated, reminding us all of the importance of celebrating and acknowledging each other’s contributions.
If you know a colleague who deserves recognition for their dedication and impact in infection prevention, consider nominating them for next year’s BJN Awards.
We look forward to seeing even more inspiring nominations next year and continuing to recognise the outstanding contributions of infection prevention professionals across healthcare.
