RCN Northern Ireland Nurse of the Year 2008

Published: 12 June 2008

Two learning disability nurses based at Muckamore Abbey Hospital in Antrim have won the 2008 RCN Northern Ireland Nurse of the Year Award 2008.

Elsie Clinghan from Donacloney and Garvin McKnight from Hillsborough secured the title for their nursing excellence and outstanding commitment to patient care. They were presented with the award by Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety Michael McGimpsey MLA at a ceremony on Wednesday 11 June.

Garvin and Elsie lead the Adapted Sex Offender Treatment Programme at Muckamore Abbey. This is one of five pilot projects across the United Kingdom developed by the Home Office for clients with a mild to moderate learning disability who have a history of sexual offending. The initiative at Muckamore Abbey is the only one located within a health care setting, the others being based within the criminal justice system.

The programme aims to develop the role of the nurse as a direct therapist to assist individuals to address their behaviour. This has required Elsie and Garvin to undertake extensive training over the past three and a half years, as well as passing a rigorous assessment. Garvin and Elsie were commended for their courage and personal commitment in undertaking the project and they said: "Our reward for this work as nurses lies within the knowledge that we are actively contributing to a safer society.”

Runners-up were Jackie Kayes, Julie Hamilton and Anne Whiteside, who are part of the community nurse in-reach service at Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. They were rewarded for their contribution to providing a specialist nursing service that enables patients to be treated at home, preventing unnecessary admission to hospital.

Other winners on the night included three nurses based at the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice. Hilary Maguire won the Team Manager Award, Frances Phillips won the Health Care Support Worker Award and Karen Bleakley was runner-up in the Nursing Research Award.

The Patient’s Choice Award was presented to Marie Allen, a community children’s nurse from Portadown, for her care of a child who was diagnosed with a brain tumour. For two and a half years Marie supported the family throughout his illness and made it possible for the child to be cared for at home in his final four weeks of life.

An award to celebrate outstanding achievement in nursing was presented to former DHSSPS Chief Nursing Officer and current Chief Executive at the Northern Ireland Hospice, Judith Hill CBE.

Commenting on the Awards, RCN Northern Ireland Director Mary Hinds said: “Congratulations to Elsie and Garvin on their outstanding achievement. They have made a difference in a very specialised and difficult area of nursing. In particular, I’d like to pay tribute to their personal courage and vision, which has not only made a difference to patients but also for the greater good of the community.

“These awards demonstrate the good practice and innovations that are taking place throughout Northern Ireland. They also illustrate how nurses are contributing to a more efficient and effective health service, yet keeping the focus on dignity and compassion. It is extremely encouraging to see the breadth of expertise and high level of patient care on offer. Nurses are playing a leading role in developing services for patients as well as making a real difference to people’s lives.”

The full listing of award winners and runner-up is reproduced below.