Leading stroke nursing professor receives honour at Buckingham Palace

A leading stroke nursing professor has received a damehood from Prince Charles during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

Dame Caroline Watkins, University of Central Lancashire professor of stroke and older people’s care, was made a dame for services to nursing and older people’s care in the New Year's Honours and received her honour at a ceremony on Thursday.

She is the only nursing professor of stroke care in the UK and has called for more specialist nurses in the sector who can ‘support all aspects of the stroke pathway’.

'Renewed vigour'

Dame Caroline told Nursing Standard in January: ‘I hope this award helps to get recognition for all the improvements still needed in stroke care. Even though we have come a long way, there is still an awful lot to do. We need renewed vigour and the government needs to do something to make sure we do not fall behind in care and innovation.

‘There is a huge role for nurses to help patients to have a life after a stroke and stroke prevention. Patients need to be supported as they are discharged home, they may have depression and other psychological problems and nurses can play a key part in signposting.

‘It is important to have nursing leadership in stroke care and nurse researchers can provide a robust evidence base and show how we can implement changes.’

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