POOLE Hospital’s Medical Investi-gations Unit (MIU) has been shortlisted for a national award.

The unit, which was originally developed as an alternative to inpatient admissions, has been shortlisted in the innovation category of the British Journal of Nursing.

These awards, recognising excellence in nursing, will be announced at a ceremony in London on Friday.

Poole’s MIU is one of only a handful in the UK and allows patients in during the day to avoid overnight stays.

Specialist-trained nurses lead the MIU, where intravenous therapies and a wide range of other procedures and investigations are carried out.

The MIU was among the first places in England where nurses could authorise blood and blood products.

Poole Hospital’s matron for medicine, cardiology and specialist nursing care, Geoffrey Walker, said: “I am immensely proud of the unit and the staff who strive to ensure that patients receive care in a warm and friendly environment.

“The type of care offered in MIU means that patients can go home every day.”