Nurse academic collects OBE from Prince Charles

It was a proud moment for nurse academic Ruth Northway when she collected her OBE from Prince Charles.

The University of South Wales (USW) lecturer was recognised for her services to learning disability nursing during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace last week.

‘It was really enjoyable and a privilege to be there,’ said professor Northway, who was presented with her honour on the same day TV presenters Ant and Dec were made OBEs for services to broadcasting. 

‘It was one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and that goes for wearing a hat as well,’ she said. 

Current challenges 

Professor Northway has been head of the  USW unit in intellectual disabilities since 2002, has written a textbook for nurses about safeguarding adults, and is an advisory editor for the Essentials of Nursing Practice. She is also editor of the Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, chair of the RCN research society steering committee and co-chair of the Welsh government learning disability advisory group.

Professor Northway said learning disability nursing currently faced big challenges, with a changing demographic of patients and a large number of nurses retiring.

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