A TEAM of nurses who come together to deliver flu jabs to housebound and infirm residents in Torbay are finalists in the prestigious Nurse of the Year 2014 awards, organised by the UK’s best-selling nursing journal, Nursing Standard.

Led by public health consultant, Linda Churm, the Flus Ease Team of 10 part-time nurses immunised 1,857 people with the flu vaccine - including 1,200 living in residential homes - over a 10-week period.

A key aspect of their role is to dispel some of the common myths surrounding flu vaccination, including reassuring patients that they won’t catch flu from the jab.

“Without this team I’m sure that the uptake in groups that are at risk would be much lower,” says Linda. Linda and her team will discover whether they have won the Bank Nurses Award - which includes a prize of £500 - at a ceremony on 9 May at the Savoy Hotel in London. One of the competition’s 12 category winners will then be chosen as the RCN Nurse of the Year 2014.

Nursing Standard’s editor in chief, Jean Gray says:

“Congratulations to Linda and her team on becoming finalists. Nursing Standard’s annual awards provide a unique opportunity to highlight and reward excellent practice within the nursing profession.”

The Bank Nurses Award is sponsored by NHS Professionals.