A LECTURER at the University of Chester has won a prestigious award from the Nursing Times.

Julie Hughes, who works for both the University and Five Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, was awarded the Service User Involvement in Infection Prevention and Control in a Mental Health Trust.

Her award-winning work focused on how patients in mental health and learning disabilities facilities often have more underlying physical health problems than the general population, which can put them at greater risk of healthcare associated infections.

She has been working to include service users and their carers in infection control programmes, ensuring they are involved and engaged in any changes and that their views are heard.

She has been working to include service users and carers in infection control programmes and developed patient information leaflets to help with hand hygiene campaigns.

Julie teaches about infection prevention and control at the university campus on both undergraduate and postgraduate nursing programmes. She said: “I was delighted to be shortlisted for this award and to win was amazing!”