Two of the Northern Care Alliance’s dedicated nurses have received their prestigious national award for their incredible service to the NHS.
Victoria O’Loughlin, Beverley BrooksNwokeochar and Julie Wallace learned in May that they were to receive the coveted Chief Nursing Officer Silver Award. The news was shared with them by Chief Nursing Officer for England Ruth May who made a surprise appearance on a virtual meeting on the eve of International Nurses’ Day.
Vikki and Beverley were presented with their awards by NCA Chief Nursing Officer Libby McManus, Salford Care Organisation Director of Nursing Simon Featherstone and NCA Deputy Chief Nursing Officer Jacqui Burrow. Julie will shortly be presented with her award.
Vikki is Assistant Director of Nursing Research and Innovation at the NCA whilst Beverley is Acting Ward Sister at the Maples Neuro specialist continuing care unit in Salford. Julie is a Sister in the Emergency Department at Salford Care Organisation.
Beverley, who is relatively new to nursing having qualified in 2018, said: “I was in total shock to hear I’d been awarded. You’re just doing your job and for someone to tell you you’re doing a good job is great. I would like to thank the whole team who have also worked incredibly hard throughout the last year.”
Vikki added: “There are so many other people working so hard so you do think ‘why me? But I am absolutely delighted and my award will be something I show my grandchildren.”
The Chief Nursing Officer for England and Chief Midwifery Officer Awards were launched in 2019. There two categories for these awards:
- Silver award recognising major contributions to patients and the profession, for nurses and midwives
- Gold award recognising lifetime achievements for nurses and midwives.
Libby said: “I really believe in the power of thank you and I’ll always remember those people from earlier in my career who took the time, during or at the end of a shift, to say thank you. I am therefore delighted that three of our very dedicated nurses – Julie, Vikki and Beverley – have been given such prestigious recognition and thanks for their work.”
Simon added: “It’s great to see three nurses from three very different fields recognised in this way, I am very proud.”