The RCN Fellowship is the highest honour the RCN can give to members. It is awarded to inspirational leaders who have made an exceptional contribution to nursing and improving health care. Fellows work with the RCN to influence policy, practice, education and research.
Dr Porrett, who is also a former Vice Chair of RCN Council, was nominated for the award by many of her peers for her long career pioneering expert nurse-led services for people living with a stoma and colorectal conditions. This has helped to improve the treatment and quality of life for patients in the UK and around the world.
Dr Porrett’s many achievements include:
- Becoming one of the UKs first colorectal nurse specialists and championing stoma care as a specialism.
- Holding educational roles in academic institutions, and as the head of education at Coloplast Ltd, based in Peterborough, where she developed a professional educational programme for stoma care nurses across the UK.
- Holding the post of Clinical Director of the North East London Bowel Cancer Screening Centre, accelerating diagnosis and streamlining care for patients and families.
- Co-founding the Academy of Fabulous Stuff - a platform for crowdsourcing and spreading better ways of working across the NHS.
- Being a long-standing member of the RCN’s Gastrointestinal Nursing Forum, representing RCN Eastern on RCN Council and being Vice Chair of RCN Council.
Paul Morris, RCN Eastern Regional Director, said: “It is clear from the glowing testimonies provided by those who have worked alongside Dr Porrett that her work has had a major impact on practice and benefitted both patients and those working in health care.
“I know the RCN will benefit greatly from having her as a Fellow as she continues to use her skills, knowledge and passion in these vital areas of practice.”
