Northern Trust nurses are recognised

Two Northern Trust nurses have been recognised recently with prestigious awards. Sadie Campbell, a district nurse, has become only the second nurse in Northern Ireland to receive the Queens Nursing Award and Florence Hand, Community Resuscitation Co-ordinator in the Health Improvement Team, was runner up in the Public Health Award category at the Nurse of the Year 2014 awards.

Every year the Queen’s Nursing Initiative infers the title of Queens Nurse to specially chosen nurses working in a primary/community setting. The title ‘Queen’s Nurse’ is only awarded to nurses who have demonstrated a commitment to high standards of patient care, learning and leadership. It aims to recognise community nurses who show their dedication to the development of their professional skills and whom promote the highest standards of patient care.

Sadie was awarded this title because of the ground-breaking work that she has been undertaking within nursing in the care of frail older people, chronic disease management and end of life care for these patients.

Florence received the runner up, Nurse of the Year Award for her innovative work in developing the Enhanced Healthcare for the Homeless (ECHO) project. Florence acknowledged that there were major challenges in terms of homeless people accessing primary healthcare services which varied from stereotypical views held to the difficulties associated with prescribing medication without medical notes. Homeless people also have problems registering with a GP.

Florence’s work through the ECHO project has helped hostels develop links with primary care providers and establish outreach schemes where health professionals visit hostels to conduct regular health checks and offer advice on health promotion. Through new joint working and training initiatives, hostel staff can now support their residents to identify, address and manage any physical, mental/emotional health needs they may have.

Congratulations to Sadie and Florence!

28th May 2014