Health / Long service of community nurses and midwives celebrated
THE LONG service and dedication of NHS Shetland’s community nurses and midwives was celebrated at an event in Lerwick at the end of April.
Representatives from the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland (QNIS) attended the event at the Lerwick Hotel, meeting with staff and presenting long service awards to those who have dedicated more than 21 years to community nursing and midwifery.
QNIS chief executive and nurse director Sarah Doyle and professional nurse lead Emma Legge were said to be warmly received by chief nurse Kim Anderson and Keri Ratter, child health nurse manager and Queen’s nurse.
As part of their wider visit to Shetland, they also delivered taster sessions on relational care and Queen’s nurse leadership, “creating valuable opportunities for shared learning and reflection”.
At the celebration they were joined by Nora Peterson, a former district nurse in Shetland who trained with QNIS in Edinburgh.
She attended alongside her friend Gillian, also a district nurse, whose aunt trained as a Queen’s nurse in 1937.
QNIS is a charity which supports Scotland’s community nurses and midwives through professional development, with a focus on addressing health and care inequalities.
Established in the late 19th century, the organisation reintroduced the Queen’s nurse title in 2017.
There are currently 194 Queen’s nurses across Scotland.
Speaking at the event, Anderson said: “The long service represents far more than the years in post. It represents the dedication, resilience, and genuine commitments to serving Shetland’s communities, often quietly and without expectation of recognition.
“Today’s event was an opportunity to say thank you. Thank you for the difference that they make to individuals, families, and communities across Shetland, and the pride that they bring to community nursing and midwifery every single day.”
Doyle also said that long service awards “hold great importance” for QNIS.
“Excellent care is delivered across Scotland by community nurses and midwives every day to support people in their homes and communities,” she added at the event.
“Today was an opportunity to acknowledge the commitment of those who have served their communities for 21 years or more, and it was an honour for us to be able to celebrate with NHS Shetland.”
A total of 19 awards were presented on the day.
Become a member of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its readers to consider paying for membership to get additional perks:
- Removal of third-party ads;
- Bookmark posts to read later;
- Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
- Hide membership messages;
- Comments open for discussion.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.
Already a member? Sign in to hide this message.
