A DEDICATED Ayrshire nurse who has been caring for patients fighting COVID-19 in intensive care has been awarded with a trip of a lifetime to Barbados.

Leeanne Campbell, 40, is a staff nurse at Crosshouse Hospital and was nominated by her husband who has recently undergone surgery to remove a brain tumour.

The staff nurse has worked for NHS Ayrshire & Arran for more than 14 years, before recently working in Pre-Op Assessment as a Nurse Practitioner.

But to help the fight against coronavirus she jumped in to help colleagues treating seriously ill patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

As well as working during the crisis, Leeanne has been looking after her three children and caring for her husband.

Leeanne said “The last year has been tough, as on top of working I helped nurse my husband back to health. He saw this as his chance to say thank you.

“He has always been so supportive of my ambitions, including working in ICU over the last few months.

“I am a very ambitious person and always like to help. So, I wanted to be on the front line and be useful during the pandemic.

Leeanne further showed her dedication to helping patients by spending her 40th birthday in ICU, and now is looking to properly celebrate on her trip away.

She added: “The team in ICU have been so supportive and assisted me every step of the way. I have learnt so much being there and believe it will really help now that I have returned to my current role in Pre-op Assessment.

Leeanne nominated for the prize with Barbados Care as a way of saying thank you for all her efforts on the frontline, as well as at home.

She said: “I just can’t believe he nominated me. It is so nice to be acknowledged and valued.”

Fiona King, Nurse Practitioner, Pre-op Assessment Manager, commented: “I am delighted to hear that Leeanne’s hard work has been recognised. The prize is thoroughly well deserved and I hope she has a wonderful time when away next year.”