A STROKE nurse who made it her mission to improve the lives of survivors has been nominated for a prestigious award.

Sue Baker, a former matron and founder of the stroke team for Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, was nominated by stroke campaigner and champion Brendan Young for the Stroke Association Life After Stroke Awards.

Sue Baker, described as both inspirational and compassionate by Mr Young, retired as matron of the successful Worcestershire Health and Care Trust Community stroke team at the end of 2014.

She felt the time had come to hand over the future leadership to members of her team.

After 'retiring' Sue was persuaded to return as interim matron at Pershore Community Hospital and she is enjoying frontline contact with patients once again.

Mr Young said: "I first met Sue in the early days of 2008 when she was setting up her community team and I have maintained contact with her ever since.

"Over the years I have been inspired by her professional compassion and commitment to patients. She is an outstanding leader supporting the success of her team helping stroke survivors back to maximum recovery.

"Sue’s nomination, within the Professional Excellence category has gained her recognition within the West Midlands Region."

Sue will be recognised at a regional awards ceremony in Birmingham ICC this week (on Wednesday).

Mr Young said: "I have been aware of Sue’s inspirational leadership and commitment to provide the highest standards of rehabilitation and recovery for stroke survivors.

"Sue previously spent six years as matron, developing the nationally acclaimed Evesham Willows Stroke Rehabilitation Unit.

"Following the publication of National Stroke Strategy in 2007, Sue was asked to set up a new community stroke team in Worcestershire.

"Sue and her team have overcome many obstacles within a changing NHS to gain the support of stroke patients and families, over a period of seven years."

Her team has more than 30 professionals including specialist nurses and therapists assisting patients to maximum recovery.

Mr Young: "It all started with Sue’s vision and team leadership, ensuring patient care in the community is of the highest standard.

"Sue leaves behind a legacy of two teams covering north and south Worcestershire who continue to provide the highest quality of stroke patient care in their homes."

Mr Young said her work complemented that of the centralised acute stroke services at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester, providing support to discharged stroke survivors, boosting their chances of recovery.

Mr Young added: "Sue is a star and has helped so many people over the years (including myself) and has raised the awareness of rehabilitation and recovery for stroke patients in Worcestershire."

Emma Prichard, clinical commissioning group commissioning manager, said: "Her enthusiasm for delivering a gold standard service in Worcestershire for those who had had a stroke was second to none.

"I thoroughly enjoyed working with her and learnt a lot from working alongside this exceptional lady. She became my sounding block and oracle for all things stroke."

Mr Young said the landscape of services in relation to stroke had changed, including the opening of the centralised stroke unit and a strategy in place to reduce the risk of strokes happening in the first place.

"We could not have achieved even half as much without Sue’s unwavering support and dedication to the work programme" Mr Young said.