Two Doncaster nurses are the latest in the borough to scoop one of the country’s most prestigious awards for being an outstanding nurse working in primary care and the community.
Katy Fenn, Clinical Team Leader, Children’s Continuing Healthcare at NHS Doncaster Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Amybeth Jones, Practice Nurse and Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner from Oakwood surgery in Doncaster both received the award for their commitment to providing high levels of patient care and nursing practice.
The title is not an award for past service, but indicates a commitment to high standards of patient care, learning and leadership. Nurses that hold the title benefit from developmental workshops, bursaries, networking opportunities, and a shared professional identity.
Katy has been a Children’s Nurse for the last 34 years, working in a community setting since 1999. Katy worked as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner, based at Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust from 2006 to 2016, combining school nursing and sexual health nursing roles. Prior to that, Katy was a school nurse from 1999 to 2006.
Since 2016, Katy has worked at Doncaster CCG in a senior nursing role, overseeing the provision of care for a number of children and families who require complex care packages.
Over this extensive period of time, Katy has built up skill, knowledge, expertise and continue to demonstrate immense passion for improving the lives of children and young people.
As part of the assessment process, a family shared some feedback about Katy and her work. The family said: “We believe that all nurses should aspire to be like Katy.
“Katy demonstrates incredibly high standards in her role and provides a close professional working relationship with her patients. She is passionate about care, nursing and is an advocate of doing the right thing for patients and their families.
“Katy brings a wealth of experience to her role but is always learning and adapting as things change; her professional values always promote fairness, honesty and integrity; she is everything that a nurse should be.”
Katy said: “Receiving the Queen’s Nurse title means the absolute world to me; I’m thrilled and delighted to have been recognised.
“To me, it’s not just a title, it’s understanding that my work is hugely valued and appreciated, not just by children, parents and families that I support, but the wider Queen’s Nurse network.
“I have worked in a community setting for more than three decades and can honestly say that I would not change my career for the world.”
Amybeth Jones has been a nurse, working in the community since 2007. Amybeth worked as a Community Staff Nurse for 10 years at RDaSH and has worked as a Practice Nurse, as well as studying to become an Advanced Clinical Practitioner for the last three years at Oakwood surgery in Doncaster.
Amybeth is responsible for the triage, diagnosis and management or minor illnesses, optimisation of chronic disease management, complex wound care, and contraception advice and management.
At Oakwood surgery, Amybeth line manages two nurse colleagues and is the named educational supervisor of student nurses on placement at her practice. She recently won the ‘Recognising Support and Mentorship Award’ at the 2020 NHS Doncaster CCG Primary Care Nursing Awards and is a finalist in the upcoming NHS England and NHS Improvement North East Yorkshire Region Nursing Awards.
Amybeth provides individual and holistic care for every patient she cares for, the values and ethos she adopts is to ensure patients are communicated with in a heartfelt and compassionate way to ensure that they feel valued and listened to.
Amybeth said: “I am thrilled my application to become a Queen’s Nurse has been accepted and it is an honour to given the title.
“Like any other nurse, patients are at the heart of everything I do. It’s vital that we support our patients in every way we can, by listening and being empathetic.
“Using this approach means I can quickly build a relationship of trust with all my patients and working in both primary care and the community means they can open up to me about their symptoms and express their feelings and concerns more freely.
“Nurses working in the community and primary care have an absolutely vital role, providing care from cradle to grave. As a Queen’s Nurse, I will continue to do my very best to continue to champion the invaluable role of a nurse, supporting my colleagues to be and do the best they can.”
Zara Head, Lead Nurse for Primary Care Quality, Doncaster CCG said: “As a Queen’s Nurse myself, I know what a huge honour it is to receive the title and receive recognition of your work.
“There are so many nurses working in the community across Doncaster that could equally receive this important award to recognise their skills, knowledge and commitment to providing world class care.
“I would encourage all nurses and midwives working in the heart of local communities in Doncaster to find out more and apply; like this and last year, it would be fantastic if we increase the number of new Queen’s Nurses even more!”
Andrew Russell, Chief Nurse, NHS Doncaster CCG said: “I am absolutely delighted that a further two fantastic individuals have been awarded the Queen’s Nurse title in Doncaster.
“Both Katy and Amybeth are exceptional nurses, providing quality, efficient and person-centred care, day in, day out.
“I look forward to working with them both as we continue our journey to improving the health outcomes for our patients and members of the public in Doncaster.”
Dr Crystal Oldman CBE, Chief Executive of the QNI said: “Congratulations to Katy and Amybeth on receiving the title of Queen's Nurse.
“Queen’s Nurses serve as leaders and role models in community nursing, delivering high-quality health care in the communities that they serve.
“The application and assessment process to become a Queen’s Nurse is very rigorous and nurses who receive the title have to provide detailed evidence of their commitment to learning, leadership and patient care.
“In the current pandemic, community nurses have shown incredible commitment and dedication and their patients and I am delighted we are able to recognise this.
“We look forward to working with Katy, Amybeth and their colleagues in Doncaster as they work to protect and improve the health of the local community."
All nurses, health visitors and midwives with five years’ experience of working in the community are eligible to apply. Nurse managers, General Practice Nurses, specialists and educators are also eligible. Further information about how to apply is available at http://www.qni.org.uk.
Earlier this year, the Children’s CHC team was also recognised for their commitment to providing exceptional care for children, parents, carers and families from Sheffield Hallam University. Lorraine Baillin, a Children’s CHC nurse was named most inspirational mentor for her work and commitment to fellow nursing training.