Nottingham Trent University Honorary Professor Mandie Sunderland has won a lifetime achievement award for her services. Mandie is also the chief nurse at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) and has been credited for the outstanding for care rating by the Care Quality Commission at Nottingham’s two main hospitals, Queen’s Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital.

Making a difference to the lives of people through nursing

Mandie has won the regional lifetime achievement category in the NHS Parliamentary Awards.

"I’m really surprised and honoured to be recognised in this way. I’ve been a nurse all my life and never regretted it for a minute. Leading nurses is a privilege," says Mandie. 

"Nursing is a chance to make a difference and we see people at the very best and very worst times of their life. But when you get it right, those people remember you forever. I still remember the name of my very first patient, back when I was training in London at 18 years old. I can still see her in the bed, it had such a big impact on me, that someone was totally dependent."

Collaborating on innovative teaching and research at Nottingham Trent University

Mandie was made Honorary Professor at Nottingham Trent University for her work in education and training and her innovative approach and outstanding leadership. As an Honorary Professor, Mandie works with Nottingham Trent University and collaborates on innovative teaching and research in the School of Social Sciences and School of Science and Technology. She helps supports Nottingham Trent University's ambition to become a Centre of International Excellence for Nursing and Midwifery Care.

"Mandie provides exceptional leadership which is acclaimed nationally, and recognised internationally, to promote the role of the nursing profession and to support innovative approaches to training and development. These efforts are designed to ensure the attraction of talent, development and retention within the nursing profession. The recent establishment of the Institute for Nursing and Midwifery Care Excellence at NUH is a testament to Mandie’s innovative approach and outstanding leadership," commented one colleague.

Tracy Taylor, NUH’s Chief Executive, says: "Mandie is a highly-respected nurse leader with a proven track record of improvement and innovation. She has put Nottingham on the map for care excellence and is an influencer in her field both regionally, nationally and internationally. Mandie led the implementation of the new Nursing Associate role across the East Midlands collaborative – and NUH is the largest pilot in the country for this role."

"She is also leading our journey and ambition to become the first ANCC accredited Magnet Hospital in the UK which will bring Nottingham international recognition for care excellence. Healthcare Trusts and organisations from around the UK and world want to visit NUH and Nottingham to find out what is happening and learn from the innovative work we do here and what makes Team NUH special, and this is in no small part down to Mandie," she adds.

Meanwhile, Trish Cargill, Chair of NUH’s Patient Partnership Group, explains: "Mandie is an inspiration not only to nurses and Team NUH, but patients and carers. She supports and involves us in true partnership to help make real changes across the hospitals, including our Memory Menus, changes to visiting times and our Magnet journey to care excellence."

"Mandie is a true ambassador for patient and public involvement. I couldn't think of anyone who is more deserving of this award than Mandie."

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