A Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) nurse has won more than 50 inspirational books which will help keep patients entertained while they undergo renal dialysis.

Staff Nurse Linda Gillespie, who works on Ward 301, entered a competition on Channel 5’s LIVE with Gabby show which asked viewers to nominate a group or institution to receive the prize.

Linda put forward the Renal Dialysis Unit (RDU) saying her patients would greatly benefit from new reading material to keep them occupied during treatment.

This week she was delighted to learn she had been picked from among hundreds of entrants, and a crew from the show delivered the prize books to the hospital.

Linda said: “I entered never believing I was going to win but I’m absolutely delighted for the patients. We’re hoping to use this as a starting point to build up a library and maybe add some listening books and games.

“Some of our patients are here three times a week for four to five hours at a time, so it’s really important that we can help keep them relaxed and happy while they’re undergoing dialysis.”

Ward Manager Sharon Pilling added: “This is great for the unit. Linda is a fantastic nurse and is always looking to make things better for the patients so I’m really pleased for her and them that she’s won the competition.”

Each of the prize books was nominated and signed by a guest on Gabby Logan’s morning show, with some inscribed with the reason the book was so special to them.

They will be checked out to individuals on the unit for the duration of their treatment and returned at the end of the appointment to ensure they continue to be available to other patients.

Linda and the RDU will feature on LIVE with Gabby today, Friday 16 December, 11:10 – 12:10.