Coventry Community Parkinson’s Disease Nurse wins National Award
Community Parkinson’s Disease Nurse Specialist, Jodie Cooke, from Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, has scooped the Parkinson’s Disease Nurse Specialist Association ‘Best Newcomer’ 2015 Award.
Jodie started in her post in 2013, taking over from a very experienced nurse. Rachel Peskett, Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist Lead at Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, said: “Despite having big shoes to fill and a heavy work load, Jodie has taken to the role like a duck to water, and built up trusting relationships with patients and healthcare professionals alike. She thoroughly deserves this award and we are all very proud of her”.
Since joining the team, Jodie has played a major role in anticipatory care for Parkinson’s patients in Coventry, compiling leaflets for patients and carers, as well as residential and nursing homes.
Furthermore, at the recent Parkinson’s Disease Excellence Network Group, her work was displayed for other areas in the West Midlands to use as a benchmark for best practice.
Jodie’s eagerness to help and move services for Parkinson’s patients forward at such an early stage in post, led to her being nominated for the Parkinson’s Disease Nurse Specialist Association (PDNSA) Best Newcomer 2015 Award.
The PDNSA hold an annual conference and awards ceremony attended by approximately 100 nurses. Local Parkinson’s Nurses can nominate colleagues for different awards, which are awarded on the night and Jodie was one of three nominated in the Newcomer category.
Jodie said, “I was aware I was nominated but did not know I had won until the night. I was very shocked! Winning the award gave me a boost, I really didn’t expect it! It’s lovely to be recognised so early into my job role.”
More information about the community Parkinson’s disease nursing service can be found on the Trust website
www.covwarkpt.nhs.uk/services/CHWS/community/rehabilitation and www.uhcw.nhs.uk/parkinsons.