Double celebrations as Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust is shortlisted in national nursing awards.
Two members of staff from Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) have been announced as finalists for a national nursing award.
The NSFT Sustainability Project, led by Gill Lee, and Priscilla Nzounhenda, have both been shortlisted for the Nursing Times Workforce Summit and Awards 2025.
The Sustainability Project has been shortlisted for Best Social Responsibility Programme. Led by Gill Lee, NSFT's Sustainability / Energy / Waste Manager, the project is founded on the principle that mental wellbeing thrives best in healthy environments. It weaves together a range of green and charitable initiatives, revolutionising mental healthcare provision at the Trust and supporting sustainable service provision and an ambition to achieve Net Zero.
Initiatives have included:
- reducing energy usage through installing LED lighting, PV panels and sun pipes and procuring 100% renewable energy
- reusing furniture in-house, through local charities, charities abroad and sending items to hospitals in Romania and Ukraine, care homes and orphanages and hospitals in Africa
- sending old electrical equipment to a company which refurbishes it for families unable to buy new items
- giving out-of-date clinical stock (such as gloves and syringes (not needles)) to local animal charities
- purchasing screen wash for fleet vehicles which has been produced from out-of-date NHS hand sanitiser
- working with NHS Forests and, over the past two years, planting 380 trees to create new staff and service user gardens.
Priscilla Nzounhenda, Deputy Director of Quality Improvement and Listening into Action (LiA), has been shortlisted for non-clinical Manager of the Year after being recognised as a compassionate and visionary leader, and primarily for her work around LiA.
LiA is Trustwide programme providing Clinical and Operational Leadership Teams with a simple 12-month framework and step-by-step methodology to improve organisational performance and make changes that matter through the direct involvement of NHS staff.
Under Priscilla's leadership, the initiative has delivered more than 200 'quick wins', resolving long-standing workplace issues efficiently and improving staff wellbeing.
Anthony Deery, Chief Nurse for NSFT, said: I am extremely proud of both Gill and Priscilla for being shortlisted for these national awards. It is testament to their hard work and dedication to the Trusts vision of improving together and providing safe, kinder, and better care for everyone. I wish them both luck for the final ceremony in November.
Gill and Priscilla have been invited to an interview with the judges at the Nursing Times on 13 October 2025.
Winners will then be announced at the NT Workforce Awards 2025 ceremony on 26 November 2025.