Press Release Queens Nurse

							 NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release

Tuesday 4 August 2009



               National Accolade for Community Matron

Community Matron Margaret Grady has joined the nursing elite, the Queen’s
Nurses. The title is the ultimate accolade in nursing and Margaret is one of 57 in
the UK and one of 13 nurses nationwide to receive the title during the first round
of 2009.

The title of Queens Nurse is awarded to individual nurses who have
demonstrated a high level of commitment to patient-centred values and
continually improving practice. The award aims to strengthen professional
identity among community nurses.

Margaret started her career as a practice nurse in 1999, before evolving in to the
role of Community Matron. Professional development has been central to her
work with the patient’s needs always coming first. Each qualification that
Margaret has undertaken, she has always considered how this would benefit the
patients that she looks after.

In applying for the award Margaret had to submit a portfolio and be supported in
her application by her managers, two peers and two of her patients, which was
assessed by a panel of healthcare professionals. Although this is not a formal
qualification, by being Queen’s Nurse Margaret is able to link up with other
Queen's Nurses' in helping to continue to promote community nursing and best
practice across the country.

Margaret commented,

“I feel very honoured to be awarded the Queen’s Nurse for recognition of my
work and professional development as a Community Matron. I applied for the
Award as a way of raising the profile of Community Matrons in Warrington and
the work that we do working with patients to keep them in their own homes,
where they want to be.”
Director of Patient Safety, Quality & Governance, Chrissie Cooke commented,

“I am delighted that Margaret has received this accolade; it’s an excellent
recognition for the works she has done as a role model for nursing in primary
care for many years. She has demonstrated she always has the interests of the
patient at the centre of whatever she does. It is well deserved.”

QNI Director Rosemary Cook CBE added, 'Congratulations are due to Margaret
for her success. Community nurses operate in an ever more challenging world
and our role is to support them as effectively as we can. The QN title is a key part
of this and we would encourage other community nurses to apply.'

As part of her Queen’s Nurse Award, Margaret has volunteered to sit on the Long
Term Conditions Project, where she will meet with Department of Health policy
makers and review the documents before they are passed.

Margaret was also a guest of the Queen at the Royal Garden Party on Tuesday
21 July, where she represented the Queen’s Nurse Institute.



ENDS


Notes to Editors

Picture: Margaret Grady photographed receiving her award from QNI Director
Rosemary Cook CBE.

The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) was established in 1887, after Queen
Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, and was responsible for training nurses to look after
people in their own homes. These trained nurses were called Queen’s Nurses.
The QNI continued this role until 1967 when district nursing training was
transferred to universities.

The QNI reintroduced this title in 2007 as a way of recognising nurses, midwives
and health visitors working in the community who make a special contribution to
the care of their patients or clients, and in so doing earn their trust and respect.

The Queen’s Nurse title is given to nurses who have to complete a rigorous
application process which includes feedback from their manager, colleagues and
patients. For those awarded the title, it marks the start of a process of learning,
networking and leadership. The nurse receives a Queen’s Nurse badge and
certificate, and is expected to join a learning set and help others improve their
practice. The nurse is invited to attend meetings which have been set up in such
a way that each nurse will be challenged to continually improve his or her
practice.


More information about Queen's Nurses is available at www.qni.org.uk


   •   Warrington PCT is part of the National Health Service (NHS). The PCT
       commissions and provides health services for the people of Warrington.
       We work closely with North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Halton and St
       Helens Primary Care Trust, 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Trust, the Local
       Authority, Social Services, Local Education Authority, local businesses
       and voluntary groups.
   •   The Community Services Unit (CSU) is an arms-length unit with NHS
       Warrington which is responsible for the provision of a range of community
       services
   •   Information about the wider NHS in our area can be found at the NHS
       North West website.




                      FOR MORE INFORMATION

For information about Warrington Primary Care Trust see www.warrington-
pct.nhs.uk

Contact: Maria Austin, Head of communications 01925 843640 / 07900 215195
or Gina Coldrick, Communications Officer 01925 843810/ 07984870375