THE NHS trust which runs Okehampton Community Hospital is in line for a prestigious national award for its work to promote the highest standards of patient safety and care. The Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust has been shortlisted four separate times for the Patient Safety and Care Awards 2014, led by flagship publications Nursing Times and the Health Service Journal. The trust has had two entries shortlisted in the education and training category of the awards, the first based on its mandatory patient safety workshops for frontline nursing, therapy and support staff. The training workshops, led by the trust's patient safety and workforce development teams, are known as the Essential Patient Safety Review (EPSR). The training has helped to dramatically reduce the number of cardiac arrests, pressure ulcers and other conditions among patients, while staff feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Kevin Marsh, the trust's director of nursing, said: 'Patient safety and quality of care are always our main priorities, so to be recognised nationally for our excellent work in these areas is great news. 'I am very proud of all the teams and the fact we have been shortlisted four times for such a prestigious award is testament to their hard work and dedication to providing safe, high-quality care for our patients every time.' The trust's project to reduce the number of cardiac arrests on wards at North Devon District Hospital has been shortlisted in three categories — education and training, changing culture and clinical leadership. The awards attracted more than 600 applications and the trust will present its entries to the judging panel in London on June 11 and 12.