Consultant Nurse Dee Curless left the NHS 21 years ago as a ward sister.

Throughout her career, she has supported patients and families, on the ward at Mountbatten Hospice, at St Mary's Hospital and in people's own homes.

Mountbatten has supported Dee's passion for palliative care and developing nursing practice.

She said: “My benchmark has always been ‘What would I want for my parents or loved ones at the end of their lives?’

"Mountbatten has given me the opportunity to grow and develop as a nurse, and I feel the genuine support and caring of a team of like-minded people.

“The essence of nursing is that moment of human connection and, even as a senior nurse, seeing patients and families is still a core part of my role, which underpins what I do here and at the University of Southampton (where I am a clinical teaching fellow)."