The title is not an award for past service but indicates a commitment to high standards of patient care, learning and leadership.
Nurses who hold the title benefit from developmental workshops, bursaries, networking opportunities, and a shared professional identity.
Two of the Queen's Nurses are from Newham Community Health Services and two are from Bedfordshire Community Health Services (BCHS).
The Newham recipients are (pictured left to right) Lara Lawson, Clinical Lead of Referral and Assessment Team and Urgent Community Response, Lucy Kwatia, Clinical Lead of District Nursing in the North Locality. Denise Locklin, Continence Lead Nurse, and Hazel White, Parkinson Specialist Nurse, are the BCHS recipients.
Lara has been a nurse for almost 30 years and she has worked with ELFT for the last 7 years. She is an accredited advanced level nurse practitioner (ALNP) who has used her exceptional expertise and unyielding commitment to excellence and provided the team with her presence that transcended exceptional clinical expertise.
Her colleagues describe her ability to blend professionalism with genuine kindness as exemplifying the highest standards of nursing, while her work ensures the well-being of service users and staff are maintained.
Lucy is a part of the District Nursing workforce that has been described as an ‘invisible workforce’ managing patients with complex health and social care issues in their homes (BBC/QNI report 2017), preventing a greater number of hospital admissions.
Lucy Kwatia said: “The Queen’s Nurse Title is an opportunity for me to be part of a prestigious group of nurses who in their various roles deliver outstanding care and continue to strive for better outcomes for patients and family.
“As a senior nurse in ELFT, I have a broad range of experience in the Community, having worked as a Community matron, District Nursing Specialist Practitioner and Telehealth Practitioner,” she added. “I am keen to promote the contribution of this workforce and I hope this award will inspire others, to take the opportunity to be recognised for their continuous hard work.”
Denise and Hazel are both based with Bedfordshire Community Health Services (BCHS).
“This well-deserved recognition is a testament to their exceptional dedication, compassion, and commitment to providing outstanding care,” Leander Webb, Lead Nurse for Specialist Nurses in Bedfordshire, said.
“Their hard work and expertise have made a profound difference in the lives of many, and this honour reflects the high standards they continue to uphold in the nursing profession. Well done!”