Two Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) nurses are among a group of 20 extraordinary clinical nurse leaders to have been awarded the prestigious title of ‘Queen’s Nurse’.

The Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland (QNIS) is a charitable organisation that has been promoting excellence in community nursing to improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Scotland since 1889. Their aim is to equip nurses with the education, skills and confidence they need to help people achieve better health and wellbeing, as well as championing nurses as advocates for quality health and care needs. 

Elizabeth Briody and Lorraine Daly were selected earlier last year to take part in the QNIS nine-month development programme. 

Elizabeth, a Clinical Nurse Specialist in our Health for All Team was nominated for her wealth of knowledge, both operationally and academically, that she harnesses to inspire health improvements for unaccompanied minors and looked after young people.

Lorraine, a Mental Health Nurse Team Leader within our Complex Needs Service was nominated for always working in a highly professional manner, continually demonstrating a high level of commitment to patient-centered care within, what can be, a highly challenging community setting.

After completing the programme successfully, they were awarded the historic ‘Queen’s Nurse title along with 18 other community nurses and midwives at a ceremony at the Sheraton Grand Hotel back in December. 

The programme requires them to choose an issue for development that will have a significant impact on those they care for, so that the learning during the nine months is applied in practice.
 
Elizabeth, who works with care experienced young people, chose to focus on keeping ‘The Promise’. The Promise is Scotland’s commitment made to care experienced infants, children, young people, adults and their families that every child grows up loved, safe and respected and able to realise their full potential. She said: “I’m really focusing on how I can help our team ensure that we keep our Promise as we continue to develop and implement the review of our nursing processes to the benefit of our young people in Glasgow.”

Lorraine works as our HSCP’s Homelessness Services Mental Health Nurse Team Leader and her development project will focus on developing the mental health aspect of the Complex Needs Service. She said: “I’m trying to develop a more streamlined mental health response within the service for people with multiple health and social care needs and I’m hoping to use all this new knowledge and bring it back to my team.”

At the award ceremony, each nurse received a Queen’s Nurse badge, 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.”

Dr Julia Egan, Chief Nurse, Glasgow City HSCP said: “It’s been an incredible privilege to have two of our own become Queen’s Nurses. I look forward to hearing what Lorraine and Elizabeth have learned in their respective journeys and how we can apply that knowledge to our community nursing services in Glasgow.”