Two NHS Lothian staff members have been awarded the prestigious title of ‘Queen’s Nurse’ at a ceremony in Edinburgh.
Lynsey Buchan, Acting Team Manager, Health Visiting and Kenny Barber, Community Mental Health Charge Nurse, Midlothian Substance Misuse Service were awarded the historic Queen’s Nurse title along with eighteen other community nurses and midwives across Scotland.
Lynsey and Kenny were both selected earlier this year to take part in a nine-month development programme run by the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland (QNIS).
Queen’s Nursing in Scotland started in the late 19th century, when nurses completed specific training which allowed them to work as district nurses providing healthcare and health promotion to people in their own homes. In doing so, they were well respected figures within their community.
After a hiatus following the introduction of the national certificate for district nursing in 1969, it was reintroduced in 2017 where 20 community nurses were chosen to take part in a transformational development programme which would represent the range of contemporary community nursing and midwifery roles in place today.
Selected by employer nomination and following a successful interview from the panel, nurses must choose an issue for development which will have a significant impact on those they care for, so that the learning during the nine months can be applied in practice.
At Friday’s formal ceremony at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Edinburgh each nurse received a Queen’s Nurse badge designed by Silversmiths, Ortak, a certificate and a specially commissioned Harris Tweed sash or tie presented by Chief Nursing Officer, Professor Alex McMahon.
Clare Cable, QNIS Chief Executive and Nurse Director said: “These 20 exceptional individuals can be deservedly proud of being awarded this prestigious title.
“From the late 1880s, Queen’s Nurses were social reformers who were taking public health into people’s homes to help families take better care of themselves. The modern Queen’s Nurses are building on this proud heritage – sharing this pioneering spirit to improve the health and wellbeing of the communities of Scotland.
“Their roles vary, from bringing care to some of society’s most vulnerable and marginalised groups to supporting people in mental distress or end of life care.
“They represent the geography of Scotland, from rural communities and small islands to concentrated areas within the big cities, but they all demonstrate nursing excellence which makes a real difference to the lives of the people they work with.”
Alison Macdonald, Executive Director for Nursing, NHS Lothian said: “All of our nurses across Lothian do incredible work, and it is a pleasure to see this recognised through the Queen’s Nurse Awards. We are delighted to have not just one, but two incredible individuals receive this prestigious title this year. Congratulations to them both.”
Funding for NHS Lothian candidates to undertake the development programme was provided by NHS Lothian Charity.
For more information on QNIS visit: https://www.qnis.org.uk/
