AN Ealing children's nurse has been nominated for a national award for his vital work during the coronavirus pandemic.

University of West London (UWL) children's nursing lecturer, Rohit Sagoo, is a finalist in the Leadership category of the RCN Nursing Awards.

The prestigious RCN Nursing Awards celebrate innovation, skill and dedication in nursing across 15 categories and this year will celebrate excellence during the pandemic.

Rohit went above and beyond to make sure South Asian families across West London had vital healthcare and support throughout the pandemic.

He shared important public health information on COVID-19, translated NHS materials for non-English speakers and dispelled vaccination myths for South Asian families.

Using Asian television and radio channels, along with community venues, he's worked with the government and NHS Blood and Transplant to bridge gaps and ensure health messages are reaching the South Asian community in Ealing and that they're understood.

Rohit set up the group, British Sikh Nurses, five years ago in order to address the gaps he saw between the NHS and South Asian communities.

Since then the group has improved organ donation rates and living donors, as well as helping create a bank of 10,000 registered donors from the community across the country.

Rohit, who joined UWL as a lecturer this summer after 20 years in children's nursing, said: "During my time working as a nurse it became apparent to me just how many gaps there were among these communities and the NHS, with information being lost or not reaching the right places.

"It is a pleasure to be nominated as a finalist at this year's RCN Awards for this work.

"It is so important that everyone feels able and confident about engaging with healthcare organisations and I'm pleased to be able to do my bit to bring about change."

Rohit will also act as a judge in this year's award ceremony which will take place on October 12.