TWO projects in Essex that have been improving patients' lives during Covid-19 are now in the running for prestigious national awards.

Developed by nursing staff at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, these initiatives have been shortlisted for awards from the Royal College of Nursing.

The oncology team at Broomfield Hospital have been shortlisted for the Excellence in Cancer Research Nursing Award. The team have been able to help patients with mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos, live longer thanks to treatments fast tracked by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

Previously, there were limited options for treatment, but now these patients have been given more precious time with their families and loved ones.

Also up for an award in the category of Learning Disability Nursing is Sandra Morton-Nance, a hospital liaison nurse at Broomfield. Sandra developed a virtual clinic to manage and support people with intellectual disability and two or more long-term conditions.

The virtual clinic was set up for people who regularly missed appointments, allowing Sandra to speak to patients and liaise with doctors and clinicians so that unnecessary hospital admissions or investigations are avoided.

Diane Sarkar, chief nursing officer at the Trust, said: "It's fantastic news that our nurses and teams have been shortlisted for the innovative work that they've been doing throughout the pandemic. The research team going the extra mile for our patients and Sandra seeing an opportunity to create a virtual clinic to provide care and support all speaks volume to the quality and dedication of our staff."

The Royal College of Nursing Awards is the profession's highest accolade and recognises the hard work and passion nurses put into their day-to-day work. Its acting RCN general secretary, Pat Cullen, said: "These finalists demonstrate the very best in nursing and I am so proud of all of them."