A WHISTLEBLOWER nurse who was struck off after raising concerns about poor standards of care has been rewarded for going the “extra mile”.

Margaret Haywood, of Everton, secretly filmed the neglect of elderly patients for a television documentary and was struck off the nursing register for misconduct in April.

She admitted breaching patient confidentiality, but said she agreed to film at the Royal Sussex Hospital in Brighton to highlight terrible conditions there.

Her film was used in a BBC Panorama programme and her striking off was later replaced with a one-year caution.

Last night, Ms Haywood received the Patients’ Choice Award at the Nursing Standard Nurse of the Year Awards.

She was one of five nurses shortlisted for the award by members of the public and overwhelmingly received the most public votes.

The judges said in their opinion, all the shortlisted candidates “demonstrate outstanding nursing qualities.”

They said it was recognised Ms Haywood had clearly made a huge sacrifice on behalf of her patients, and at least some were grateful.