AN award in celebration of nursing and midwifery has been set up, with patients being asked to make nominations.

The Nightingale Award has been launched by South Tees NHS Trust to recognise the important contribution nurses make to patients and their families.

The prize is open to all nursing staff working as healthcare assistants, staff nurses, sisters, specialist nurses, nurse practitioners, nurse managers or clinical matrons at The James Cook University Hospital and the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton.

Staff can nominate their colleagues in the hospital, but the trust is keen to hear from patients who feel the care or treatment they received in the past year made a difference to them.

A spokesman from the trust said: "We know that often staff go above and beyond the call of duty and do something that really makes them stand out from the crowd.

"The opportunity to formally recognise their contribution through this award provides staff with important feedback on how their work has helped the patients."

Anyone who would like to nominate a member of staff must have been a patient at either hospital in the past year, and nominations should show how the person helped the patient.

Forms are available from the nursing development office on (01642) 854344.

The closing date for entries is Wednesday, March 31.

The award winners will be announced by the trust in May.