A FERNDOWN nurse has been nominated for a national award just weeks before she retires.

Wendy Statter, a district nurse at Penny’s Hill Practice, is one of four finalists for the Claire Rayner Patient’s Choice Award, organised by Nursing Standard.

She was nominated by the wife of a patient, who said her husband wouldn’t be alive without Wendy and her team.

Ferndown resident Jenny O’Sullivan’s husband Michael was treated for eight months for leg ulcers and feet ischemia.

Mrs O’Sullivan said: “I am convinced my husband would not be with us any more if it wasn’t for them.

“He had been through hell and given up. Wendy and her team not only cared for his him – they cared for me too.”

Wendy has been working as a nurse for more than 40 years, starting her career when she was 18.

She said: “It’s an absolutely delightful surprise.

“Mr O’Sullivan was really very poorly.

“He came to us from hospital, and he was very ill indeed, with multiple problems.

“He had atrocious ulcers and black toes because they weren’t getting the blood supply.

“It seemed very much as if he had given up, but we decided to do all we could to help,” Mrs O’Sullivan added.

Nurses visited the couple’s home twice a day to support Mr O’Sullivan in his recovery, and he was finally able to walk in to see his consultant last January after having been confined to a wheelchair.

Wendy said: “Eventually, we got to see this cheeky Irishman coming out, which was really lovely.”

Mrs O’Sullivan said: “The nurses brought laughter back into our home.

“My husband has a great sense of humour, and as he became more and more unwell, it had gone.

“Wendy and her team brought it back, and I can never thank them enough.”

Mrs O’Sullivan said she would also like to thank Dr Adrian Rozkovac and his team at Bournemouth Hospital, the nurses on wards one, 23 and 24, and everyone who provided support.

To vote for Wendy Statter, visit www.patients-choice.co.uk or call 0845 653 0195 and select option D.

Voting for the awards closes on March 1.