Published on: 14 May 2018

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Pictured: Emily Speirs receives her 'Cadet of the Year' award from Director of Nursing, Christine Pearson

The high standard of nursing cadets studying at local colleges and working at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) came under the spotlight at the annual Cadet Awards which took place at the Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital.

Cadets Ruby Hitchen (Blackburn College), Chelsea Eyre (Nelson & Colne College) and Chloe Patefield (Burnley College) each received ‘Special Merit Awards’ from the Trust’s Director of Nursing, Christine Pearson.  

And to cap a fantastic Cadet Awards ceremony, Emily Speirs from Burnley College was named the overall ‘Cadet of the Year’.

Linda Whitfield, Head of Workforce Learning and Development at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust said: “We are delighted to partner with Blackburn, Nelson & Colne and Burnley colleges to provide placements and support for East Lancashire’s healthcare assistants and nurses of the future.  

A total of 41 nursing cadets from Blackburn College, Burnley College and Nelson and Colne College were invited on stage to receive Certificates of Distinction. In addition, eight Cadet Mentors were recognised with the ‘Mentor of the Year’ award going to Healthcare Assistants Zena Russell and Glenys Barton. 

Following successful completion of the Cadet Programme, the cadets will be going on to their next challenges – some to university as student nurses, student paramedics and student radiographers, as well as other professions.

Each year East Lancashire Hospitals welcomes over 100 cadets from Nelson & Colne, Burnley and Blackburn colleges as they combine hospital placements with academic studies for the BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma. 

“We are extremely proud of all our Cadets and look forward to welcoming new Cadets from the Colleges when the new academic year starts in September,” added Linda Whitfield.