Two members of staff from The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn have received the prestigious Silver Chief Nursing Officer Award, recognising the outstanding commitment they have given to their work.
Edmund Tabay, Deputy Chief Nurse, and Karen McGuire, Head of Nursing for Medical Division received their awards on Monday 21 December during a virtual presentation from the Chief Nursing Officer for England, Ruth May.
The Chief Nursing and Chief Midwifery Officer Awards recognise the significant and outstanding contribution made by nurses and midwives in England and their exceptional contribution to nursing and midwifery practice. The silver award recognises the performance of an individual that goes above and beyond expectations of the everyday, providing consistently outstanding care.
Ruth May was Chief Executive at QEH between 2005 and 2007, and became Chief Nursing Officer for England in 2019. She is passionate about nurturing the next generation of NHS nursing, midwifery and allied health leaders.
Ruth would have normally presented the awards in person, but was pleased to present the awards via video link, thanking both Edmund and Karen virtually.
Nominations for the Chief Nursing Officer Awards are made by a Chief Nurse or senior members of a nursing or midwifery team, and are reviewed by NHS England and the NHS Improvement Senior Management Team for Nursing and Midwifery
Dr April Brown, Chief Nurse and Director for Infection Prevention and Control at QEH, said: “Edmund has raised the sense of pride and professionalism in clinical practice throughout our Trust. He is a consistent, accessible and compassionate senior nurse leader and is a shining example to all our nurses, midwives and AHPs. He is a trusted, inclusive, compassionate and visible patient focussed senior nurse leader who is tireless in ensuring high standards of care and professionalism.
“Karen has worked tirelessly to engage and motivate not only the nursing teams and Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) but also works with her Divisional Director to positively influence the ways of working and adherence to our Trust values. She embodies all that it means to be a Nurse. She is trusted, respected, highly valued and a committed leader who is in her 31st year of service to the NHS.
“These awards recognise the tremendous hard work and commitment both Karen and Edmund have given to their work, and I am immensely proud of them. In what has been a challenging year for the Trust, we are especially thankful to them for going above and beyond, and ensuring our patients consistently receive the outstanding care they deserve.”
Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England, said:“Thanks to Edmund, QEH’s international recruitment has gone from strength to strength. Karen started her nursing career at QEH in 1989, and has been through many leadership changes. The way she has helped the Trust achieve Care Quality Commission outcomes is truly appreciated by all of us. A huge thank you to both Edmund and Karen for all of the work they have done.”
Award winner Edmund Tabay, Deputy Chief Nurse at QEH, said: “I am truly humbled to accept this award and a huge thank you to the leadership team for the unconditional support extended to me to achieve this. I would like to acknowledge the passion and commitment of my nursing, midwifery and AHP colleagues that always inspire me to do more. Finally, I would like to share this award with all Filipinos in health and social care recognising their hard work in these unprecedented times.”
Award winner Karen McGuire, Head of Nursing for Medical Division at QEH, said:
“It means so much to me to accept this very special CNO award and I feel incredibly humbled. I commenced my training and then continued to work at this very special hospital, my local hospital. I’m incredibly proud to be nurse and to have delivering patient care and supporting staff here for 32 years. Thank you!”
–ENDS–
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