Lymphoedema nurse Sarah Wilson is through to the finals of the British Journal of Nursing awards in the category of Chronic Oedema Nurse of the year.

She was nominated and among the top three in the country for her work developing the lymphoedema service.  Sarah has worked hard and recently developed a breast cancer early detection pathway with the hope to prevent lymphoedema developing following breast cancer treatment.

Patients are monitored prior to treatment then every three three months for two years. The patients are at risk of swelling in their arms and hands and fingers after the removal of lymph nodes, radiotherapy, surgery and chemotherapy.

This raises awareness, gives them information and a contact so if there are signs of swellings they can access care and early intervention by the lymphoedema team.

Sarah and the team also care for patients who are born with a damaged lymphatic system and secondary lymphoedema following trauma, surgery, obesity, poor mobility, or DVT. This can be very disfiguring and puts patients at high risk of developing cellulitis.

Our team of four Lymphoedema Nurses have around 1,500 patients, covering Huddersfield, Calderdale, Kirklees and Harrogate. They are based at Beechwood Community Health Centre, Halifax, Huddersfield and Harrogate.

Sarah said: “I was gobsmacked when I was told I’d been nominated. A rep said “congratulations, well deserved” and I didn’t know what he was talking about.

“We have a great team here and I absolutely love my work.”

** The final awards ceremony is on Friday March 8 at The Shakespeare Underglobe in London. Good luck Sarah!