A NURSE has won a national award for going beyond the call of duty to help premature babies and their families.

Kit Pennington, a nursery nurse on Salisbury District Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, was presented with The Mother & Baby Big Heart Beyond the Call of Duty Award at a star-studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel in London on Monday.

Miss Pennington, who lives in Market Lavington and has worked at the hospital for seven years, was nominated by Vicky Charles, for the support she was given following the premature birth of her daughter Samaire.

Miss Pennington, 43, said: “I was just doing my job, but I love it, and to me everybody should be made to feel supported in every way possible. When I get a patient they need to feel like they are number one; even if you have ten other patients, they each need to feel looked after.”

Her job is take over looking after mother and baby once premature babies leave the intensive care area but still need hospital input, supporting them until they’re ready to leave the NICU.

“It’s a brilliant job to do and getting an award was amazing,” she added.