A new scheme, entitled I CARE, provides patients, and their relatives, at both Luton and Dunstable, and Bedford Hospitals the opportunity to recommend students on placement for an exclusive badge if they have shown extraordinary care.

Marcia Ogunji, Senior Midwifery Lecturer at the University, launched the initiative which will reward students who have been empathic, compassionate, respectful, and prepared to escalate any concerns appropriately with advocacy.

Marcia said: “As part of our on-going partnership with local healthcare providers, we are always looking for ways to improve patient care.

“This initiative is designed to do exactly that. Not only will it provide our students with a sense of pride and confidence in their work, but it will also offer them, and us, with feedback on the care patients receive. Ultimately this will further improve the service offered.

“The role of the patient is therefore invaluable and we would love to hear your acknowledgements. You can identify if you have been looked after by a student, as their white uniform is a different colour to the standard nursing uniform, and it displays the University’s tulip logo.

“So, to nominate a student: either email icare@beds.ac.uk; write to University of Bedfordshire, I CARE, Butterfield campus, c/o Park Square, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU1 3JU; or alternatively there will be forms to fill out on wards, which you can hand to nursing staff.”

Pat Reid, Luton & Dunstable Hospital Chief Nurse, added: “This is a fantastic opportunity for encouraging and recognising the contribution that student nurses make to the experience of our patients. Basing the awards on real time feedback provides us with rich intelligence on how individuals can impact on patient care.”

Nina Fraser, Director of Nursing at Bedford Hospital NHS Trust, added: “Bedford Hospital NHS Trust is very pleased to support the ICARE initiative and looks forward to first students being recommended for the exclusive award. I am delighted that the University of Bedfordshire is placing such a high value on the role of caring within the healthcare setting.”

The new programme was launched on Tuesday 17 June at the two-day I CARE Conference, where professionals, academics and students debated about what it means to be a carer, and to say ‘I care’.

Among the talks included lectures by Patricia Reid, and Tim Curry, Assistant Head of the UK Nursing Department, at the Royal College of Nursing.