A TEAM leader at a Ledbury care home has been selected from more than 4,600 staff across the UK to receive an award for her outstanding work, which includes saving a baby's life, during a sudden emergency.

Alison House, who has worked at Ledbury Nursing Home for the past eight years, was recently presented with the Clinical Excellence’ award at Shaw healthcare’s annual Shaw Star Awards.

A spokesman said: "This particular award recognises and celebrates outstanding clinicians who contribute most towards delivering safe and high quality care. Judges felt that Ms House ‘was a positive advocate and promoted the emotional, physical, psychological and social health of the people she supported’."

A nurse for more than 35 years, Ms House also helps provide palliative care at the intermediate care unit (ICU) at least once a week.

The spokesman added: "Her peers described how she gives quiet, unobtrusive support to patients, families and the care team, and makes herself available in the last hours of patient’s lives.

"An example of her dedication and determination was evident when a family brought in a four month old baby who wasn’t breathing. Ms House delivered resuscitation for 40 minutes, giving the baby vital support at a critical time before being transferred to A&E. Her speedy and heroic actions resulted in the baby surviving."

Ms House said: “It is wonderful to know that people took the time to nominate me and knowing that the work I do is recognised.”

Ms House was recognised as more than 200 people gathered at The Chesford Grange Hotel in Warwickshire for Shaw healthcare’s annual awards ceremony, which aims to celebrate the achievements of outstanding staff members from amongst the 4,600 care workers across Shaw’s 80 UK facilities.

Jeremy Nixey, chief executive of Shaw Healthcare, said: “We’re now in the ninth year of the Shaw Star Awards; an evening which truly gives us the opportunity to recognise staff across the company for their hard work, dedication and genuine care that they put into their jobs.

“It really is an achievement to be shortlisted, let alone take home an award, as all nominations come from fellow colleagues, those who use our services and their families. It’s a night of celebrating the real difference that these incredible individuals make to the quality of care provided, whether in a small, everyday task or the overseeing of an entire home.”