TWO nurses from Blackburn Royal Infirmary have been given national awards for projects they developed to improve patient care.

Orthopaedic outpatient sister Kathleen Eccles was highly commended in the Nursing Standard Nurse of the Year awards while nurse consultant Brigid Reid won special recognition from the Foundation of Nursing Studies.

Kathleen, who works in the fracture clinic, has developed an innovative approach to treating diabetics with foot ulcers.

She developed a series of treatments for patients, including casts and chiropody techniques.

Brigid, who received her award from former Commons Speaker Baroness Betty Boothroyd, got recognition for a project she developed to help nurses understand a patient's perspective.

Director of Nursing and Quality for Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Healthcare NHS Trust, Richard Gildert, said: "I am delighted Kathleen and Brigid's leading edge practice development work has received national recognition.

"Nurses and midwives working in Blackburn hospitals pride themselves on providing quality care to patients. To maintain our standards requires being able to question how we do things and to consider new and improved ways of providing patient care."