The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (Royal Devon) Acute Oncology team (Northern services), based at North Devon District Hospital, has won a prestigious national award for nursing.   

The team supports all types of cancer patients who may experience complications from their disease, treatments or who are diagnosed with a new cancer as an inpatient. 

The team scooped the Nursing Times ‘Team of the Year’ award this week at a ceremony at the Grosvenor Hotel in London.

The judges were looking for entrants to prove high-quality healthcare is a team effort, often involving collaboration between a range of professions. Teams had to show judges the benefits of their initiative to patient care and how the entire team contributed to its success. The Royal Devon team was among 12 teams shortlisted from NHS trusts and independent healthcare providers across the country.  

In announcing the Royal Devon team as the winners the judges said they were, “highly impressed by the passion and expertise of the team at the Royal Devon and the difference their work made to their patients’ journeys”.    

The judges also remarked on how the team has innovated to allow nurses to develop their careers in the face of challenges, while being inclusive, democratic and valuing the contribution of all their team members.  

“This is a tremendous achievement and pays tribute to the professionalism, dedication and excellent care that the team provides to our patients. It is inspiring to see that even under the challenging circumstances we are currently experiencing we have teams here working at the highest standards, very well done and congratulations to the Acute Oncology Team,” said Beverley Allingham, Director of Nursing - Northern Services, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.