Nottingham’s Nurse of the Year, Kim Helm, today unveiled her name on one of the latest additions to the city’s tram fleet.
Paediatric Transplant Clinical Nurse Specialist Kim, who works in the renal ward at Nottingham Children’s Hospital, was guest of honour at the special ceremony, held at the tram network’s Wilkinson Street depot.
She followed in the footsteps of fellow children’s nurse and previous award-winner Julie Poulter, after amassing the most votes in the 2015 Nurse and Midwife of the Year Award.
The scheme – aimed at highlighting the contribution of local nurses and midwives – is organised by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust along with the Nottingham Post and NET is proud to be headline sponsors.
Jamie Swift, NET Marketing Manager, explained: “For the past 12 months, Julie’s name on the side of a tram has provided a constant reminder of the outstanding professionalism of local nurses.
“A year on, Kim’s name will now appear on one of our new Citadis trams which have been introduced onto the network ahead of the opening of our two new lines to Chilwell and Clifton.”
Kim is the latest in an honourable line of Nottingham notables who have had trams named after them, including legendary characters and local heroes such as Robin Hood, Brian Clough, Torvill and Dean, Carl Froch and, more recently, playwright Stephen Lowe.
Kim said: “I was bursting with pride at the awards ceremony. It was an honour to even be nominated, let alone to be named people’s nurse and midwife of the year. To have my name on a local tram really is the icing on the cake!”
Mandie Sunderland, NUH Chief Nurse, commented: “We’re so proud of Kim and can’t wait to see the tram with her name on passing through the hospital grounds soon. It is a fantastic way to honour her for all her hard work and we’re very thankful to NET for helping us to raise the profile of nursing and midwifery at NUH in such a unique way.”
Councillor Nick McDonald, Portfolio Holder for Jobs, Growth and Transport at Nottingham City Council, added: “While some of Nottingham’s trams have been named after famous local legends, I am pleased to see that others are highlighting our less famous, but equally deserving, local heroes, like Kim.
“I hope the tram will be a continual reminder to her and her colleagues that we greatly value the work of the city’s nurses and midwives and that we are particularly proud of Kim.”
“I’m sure Kim will be able to make good use of the tram named in her honour as the extended tram network will allow staff, patients and visitors to get quickly and easily to the QMC – the region’s largest hospital and the first hospital in the UK to be served by trams.”