A NURSE from Inverkip is among a group of 21 community nurses to have been awarded the prestigious title of Queen’s Nurse.
Lee-Anne Woods, a clinical nurse specialist with care-experienced children and young people at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, was selected earlier this year to take part in a nine-month development programme run by the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland (QNIS).
After completing the programme successfully, Lee-Anne was awarded the Queen’s Nurse title.
Queen’s Nursing in Scotland dates back to the late 19th century, when nurses completed specific training which allowed them to work as district nurses to provide care for the ‘sick poor’ of Scotland’s communities.
QNIS organised the training of district nurses in Scotland until the late 1960s. Nurses who qualified from the Institute were known as Queen’s Nurses, they provided healthcare and health promotion to people in their own homes and became well respected figures within their community. Following the introduction of a national certificate for district nursing, QNIS ceased training
The Queen’s Nurse title was reintroduced to Scotland in 2017, with around 20 community nurses and midwives chosen each year to embark on the Queen’s Nurse Development Programme (QNDP).
There are now over 170 contemporary Queen’s Nurses working across Scotland.
Dr Sarah Doyle, QNIS chief executive and nurse director, said: “QNIS is delighted to award the Queen’s Nurse title to these fantastic nurses.
“Community nurses and midwives occupy a unique position in Scotland’s health service, working as they do in the heart of communities, championing the cause of those who are not heard, helping those facing real adversity. They do extraordinary work, every day. The Queen’s Nurse Development Programme supports participants to build their confidence, inspiring them to find and lead creative responses to the challenges faced by their colleagues and the communities they serve.”
