Nurses awarded for infant safer sleep initiative

Nurses at a hospital's emergency department have won a national award for their work to reduce the risk of sudden infant death.

The team at Leighton Hospital won the Critical and Emergency Care Nursing award at the 2025 Nursing Times Awards following the success of a project that delivers safer sleep education to families while their children are in A&E.

Bosses at the hospital in Crewe, Cheshire, said staff were praised for their compassionate, non-judgemental and collaborative approach.

The initiative was launched in 2024 and has delivered advice to more than 800 parents and carers.

"With strong potential for replication in other organisations across the UK, this project empowers families and healthcare teams alike, reducing harm and the risk of sudden infant death," the award citation said.

The project was led by emergency department paediatric nurses Ashleigh Hall and Kirstie Orr.

"Safer sleep advice is hugely important and being able to offer that guidance face-to-face, while families are already with us in the emergency department means we can make a real difference," Ms Hall said.

Ms Orr added: "As a team, we want to deliver those messages in the most beneficial ways possible because ultimately this can help to prevent avoidable tragedies."

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Source: BBC News, 29 October 2025