TWO dedicated community nurses from Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust have received prestigious awards.

Caroline Attwood, Lead Nurse for Community Nursing, and Sandra Ryan, Directorate Manager for Community Nursing, are two of only a small number of nurses chosen across the country each year to receive the special Queen's Nurse Awards which is presented to those who deliver the highest standards of care in the community.

The prestigious title of 'Queen's Nurse' is only given to those with more than five years’ experience working in the community who deliver outstanding care and display inspirational leadership and is awarded by the Queen's Nursing Institute (QNI).

Caroline said: "There's no better feeling than someone saying you're doing a really good job. And this isn't just a job for us - we're so passionate about community services.’’ Sandra echoed her comments, saying: "Receiving this award is one of my proudest moments! To get this recognition as a nurse is huge. MWL staff continually drive for excellence, and to be recognised at a national level for leadership is really special."

Receiving the award at the same time is even more meaningful for Caroline and Sandra as they first met at work 20 years ago and have been friends ever since. They were both originally inspired to become nurses because of their own personal experiences of fantastic nursing care.

Sandra said: "In community nursing there's a lot of trust involved in being invited into someone's home and life. You're able to establish a continuing relationship and get to know their family unit - it's a privilege.’’

Caroline said: "It's an honour to provide people with comfort and dignity when they're at their most vulnerable. And community nurses have a vital role in preventing unnecessary admissions to hospital, safeguarding acute beds for those who need it most".

Lynne Barnes, Acting Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Governance at the Trust said: “We are delighted that both Caroline and Sandra have been honoured with this esteemed title.

“Queen’s Nurses serve as leaders and role models in community nursing, so this is a thoroughly deserved award which highlights their exceptional contributions to patient care and the outstanding commitment of their nursing teams to the communities they serve.”