Publish date: 16 November 2022
Inspirational Mid Cheshire nurse specialist Ani Kunnath is celebrating after winning a prestigious award for her outstanding work in acute pain management.
Ani, who works at Leighton Hospital, was named national Acute Pain Nurse of the Year at a ceremony in Warwick.
Dr Angela Deeley, Consultant Lead for the Pain Team, and Anneka Field, Acute Pain Specialist, both nominated their colleague for the honour.
Anneka said: “We have had the privilege to work with many inspirational nurses, however working alongside Ani is an absolute joy. She is extremely knowledgeable and understands the needs of patients so well.
“Ani works tirelessly, always ensuring that patients are cared for to the highest standards. She can be relied upon for any task that is thrown her way, always completing it efficiently with a smile and often a hug at the end of the day. Ani is so well respected by staff from every speciality.”
Ani was born in Kerala, India, and completed her nurse training there before moving to Cheshire and joining Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
As well as her dedicated work as a nurse consultant, which colleagues described as ‘exemplary’, she has also gone above and beyond to provide help and guidance for other staff who move to the UK and join the hospital.
Colleagues say her valuable pastoral support for overseas nurses ensures these new staff feel welcomed.
Anneka said: “Ani works so hard for our team and the hospital as a whole. She deserves to be recognised for her hard work.”
The Acute Pain Nurse of the Year award was among the top honours at the National Acute Pain Symposium, which is the largest acute pain meeting in the UK and the longest running acute pain meeting in the world.
Ani received her award from Dr Felicia Cox, a nurse consultant who has published widely in the field of pain and sits on the board for national pain groups.
