Two colleagues from Ipswich Hospital have been shortlisted in the 2016 East of England NHS Leadership Recognition Awards.

Patient experience lead Sarah Higson is a finalist in the excellence in patient experience category, and Gill Orves, chairwoman of the Ipswich Hospital User Group (IHUG), for patient leader of the year.

They will find out if they have won on Thursday.

Ms Higson was nominated by Ms Orves for the support she has given to IHUG to drive through improvements while making sure the voices of patients are heard.

She said: “It is really nice to be nominated for this award, and especially heart-warming that the nomination came from Gill, who I respect hugely as a patient leader within our organisation.

“It’s fantastic to have your work recognised in this way.”

Ms Orves was nominated by Lisa Nobes, the hospital’s director of nursing, for the passion she shows for further improving the experience of fellow patients and the innovations she has introduced since becoming chair of IHUG in April 2015.

This includes the ‘adopt a ward’ initiative, which sees patient representatives visit wards to gain real-time feedback so that simple changes can be made, such as improving lighting and staff ID badges.

“I was absolutely over the moon when I found out, and really surprised that I had been nominated,” she said. “I was delighted when I found out who had nominated me as it shows a real level of appreciation from the trust board for the work which IHUG does.

“It also highlights just how much the hospital values the voice of patients, and for that I think we are very lucky.”