Nurses honoured at QNI annual awards

The top-performing student from all district nursing programmes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland has been awarded a prize for outstanding achievement at the Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) annual awards.

London Southbank University student Brendan Garry accepted the Philip Goodeve-Docker Memorial Prize during the ceremony at the Royal Garden Hotel in London last week.

‘Absolute honour’

The award was established in memory of Mr Goodeve-Docker, who died after becoming trapped in a polar ice storm while trekking across Greenland to raise funds for the QNI in 2013.

Mr Garry said of his award: ‘It is an absolute honour to receive the award – it means a great deal to me.

‘It was also lovely to have the opportunity to meet Philip’s family at the awards ceremony.’

Four nurses were also made QNI fellows, while 111 new Queen’s Nurses received their badges and certificates from Public Health England chief nurse Viv Bennett, herself a fellow of the QNI.

Recognising achievements

QNI council chair Kate Billingham said: ‘This is always a special event for the QNI, a chance to recognise and celebrate achievements in community nursing.

‘It is good to be reminded of the dedication, the passion and the skills of nurses working in the community.’ 

The four new fellows are:

• London Southbank University professor of workforce modelling Alison Leary.
• Northern Ireland Practice and Education Committee for Nursing and Midwifery chief executive Angela McLernon.
• Sheffield Hallam University professor of nusrsing, Queen’s nurse and independent consultant Laura Serrant.
• NHS Wales chief nursing officer, nurse director and professional head of nursing and midwifery Jean White.

National Gardens Scheme chief executive George Plumtre also gave a brief address at the awards. Since it was established in 1927, the scheme has been the largest funder of the QNI and now raises more than £3 million a year for nursing and caring charities by opening around 4000 gardens to the public.