Three nurses dance their way to the Strictly NHS final

NHS charity ballroom competition announces its 12 finalists

Three nurses have made it to the final of Strictly NHS, a charity ballroom dancing competition raising money to thank NHS staff amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Competition raises money to support health and welfare of patients

The competition is raising money for Blue Skies Hospitals Fund, a charity dedicated to enhancing care for patients at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Funds will go to improving the health and welfare of patients, carers, visitors and staff as well as research and equipment.

• RELATED: Strictly NHS: dancing competition raises thousands to thank healthcare staff

One of the 12 finalists, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust’s children’s nurse Bradley Setchell said he entered the competition because ‘it is a fantastic opportunity to let off some steam, boost morale and honour the NHS professionals who have lost their lives to COVID-19’.

Finalist says opportunity is ‘a dream come true’

Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust’s mental health nurse Louise Pickin is another finalist and a self-described ‘uber Strictly fan’. She has always wanted to learn ballroom dancing and said that making the final is a ‘dream come true’.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s head of nursing for safeguarding, mental health legislation, learning disabilities and autism, Karen Sykes entered in memory of her husband and daughter who both died by suicide.

‘If my daughter Beth had been alive she would have applied and no doubt she would have got to the final.’

Yvonne Hurst, a former nurse, has also made the final.

Dance training will begin in January

The finalists and their partners will begin training in January allowing for government COVID-19 guidelines and the finals will take place on 26 February at the Empress Ballroom in Blackpool.

Funds raised through sponsorship, donations and the competition’s JustGiving page will go towards the £10,000 target.

• RELATED: ‘Forgotten’ and struggling financially: can health charities survive COVID-19?

Strictly NHS is the brainchild of Alison Slinger, director of dance company The Crown Ballroom.

Ms Slinger said the competition is a way of giving back to the NHS: ‘We are dancers by trade, we are not medically minded, so we can’t help on that side, but we can put on a damn good show.’

Watch: Strictly NHS final 12

In other news

• Made-to-measure face masks: nurse working on prototype for healthcare staff
• RCN disputes government claim to be on target for 50,000 more nurses in the NHS