Sarah Sutcliffe, a community nurse team leader within Children’s Speech and Language therapy services, was recently awarded the title of Queen’s Nurse.
The honour was given to just 563 nurses across the country this year – a small fraction of the 700,000 registered nurses in the UK as a whole.
Queen’s Nurses must complete a rigorous application process with applicants expected to demonstrate a high level of commitment to patient care and nursing practice. The programme brings together community nurses to develop their skills and help deliver outstanding patient care.
Sarah, who qualified in 2010 from the University of Cumbria has always been passionate about community services. She said: “I feel hugely honoured and humbled to have been awarded the title of the Queen’s Nurse. I know there are only 2,500 nurses across the country with the title and I feel very proud to be in this network of likeminded nurses.”
Recently, Sarah attended an event in London where she officially received her title.
“I applied to become a Queens Nurse because I’m passionate about raising the profile of community children’s services and encouraging a greater focus on public health to improve the health of the community – especially children and young people,” she said.
Sarah added: “I hope that being part of the Queen’s Nurse network will allow me to champion my passion and help shape national policies and agendas to support communities effectively. I’m also keen to encourage other members of the team to aspire to provide the best possible care for our patients in the Speech and Language Therapy Service and the Neurodevelopmental Pathway on the Fylde Coast.”
Bridget Lees, Executive Director of Nursing, Midwifery, Allied Health Professionals and Quality at Blackpool Teaching Hospital, said: “I’m so pleased for Sarah, this is a wonderful demonstration of the commitment she, and indeed her colleagues, show towards the work she carries out in the community to support our patients.
“Our community services operate across the Fylde Coast in peoples’ homes, health centres, schools and are such a vital part of both our organisation and the communities we care for. I’m so proud of all our community teams and want to say a special congratulations to Sarah for shining a spotlight on the work they do.”