HOSPITAL staff who are keeping a close eye on patient care are up for two national awards.

Supportive staff from the eye departments at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust are finalists in the national Bayer Ophthalmology Honours 2015.

The Bayer Ophthalmology Honours recognise and celebrate, on an annual basis, the outstanding work being carried out by ophthalmology teams throughout the UK.

The Worcestershire team is up for the Best Patient Support or Education Initiative category after they set up a support group and website for patients.

The winners will be announced at the Royal College of Surgeons in London on Wednesday, December 2.

Clinical director for Ophthalmology and Consultant Ophthalmologist Mr Tarun Sharma, who initially set up the Worcestershire Glaucoma Support Group in 2009, is also up for the Inspirational Leader of the Year Award from Health Education West Midlands on Thursday, December 3.

The support group, run by Ophthalmology Sister Sara Ruck with the help of deputy directorate support manager for Speciality Medicine Sally Hunter, continues to expand, with more than 70 people regularly attending a patient support group.

Mr Sharma said: “We are very proud to be up for these national awards for the care and support we provide to our patients, their families and their friends. Our team goes above and beyond to make sure our patients receive the very best treatment from us, and it is great to be recognised for the hard work we put in. Special mention has to go to Sally and Sara who both work exceptionally hard for our patients.”

To further improve the reach and accessibility of the support they were able to offer, the team also set up a website for the support group, which contains a number of glaucoma education videos for patients to watch in their own home.

For more information about the support group visit www.worcestershireglaucomasupport.co.uk.