Gary Rutherford has won the award for his work setting up a community-based addiction recovery service (ARC).
The mental health nurse from Derry was presented with the RCN award by Health Minister Robin Swann MLA at a special ceremony held at the Culloden Hotel, Holywood, last night (16 June).
While working in acute psychiatric admission wards and as an addiction nurse therapist in the Western Trust, Gary observed a gap in support services within the community.
He initially set up ARC as a signposting service to help people access appropriate help and support in community settings.
From the outset, demand was high and eventually Gary made the tough decision to give up his post within the trust’s addiction service to focus on this work.
The community-based not-for-profit organisation employs two full-time staff with a support team of 14, including mental health nurses, therapists, counsellors, personal trainers and peer recovery coaches.
Person-centred care
Gary provides holistic person-centred care and ensures the service focuses on preventing further physical and emotional harm. Gary’s nominator, Yvonne McWhirter, explains that having experience of recovery himself, Gary has developed a “no shame” approach to addressing the stigma related to addiction.
Having helped a wide range of people struggling with substance abuse, ARC’s patient-reported outcome measures show reductions in symptoms of depression and anxiety, and positive social contacts between participants.
An inspiration
Yvonne describes him as “an inspirational nurse who continues to keep his focus and priority on high standards and quality of care using innovative and relevant delivery.”
Runner-up on the evening was Lesley McKillen, from Ballyclare, home manager at MD Healthcare.
Lesley was nominated for developing a centre of excellence for residents with complex tracheostomy needs in a supportive care home environment. This service is rarely provided in a care home because of the specialist clinical skills required for patients, who would otherwise need hospital care.
The Patient’s Choice Award, sponsored by the Patient and Client Council, was won by Pat Gorman, respiratory nurse specialist at the Northern Trust. Pat was nominated by a number of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a terminal condition in which the lungs become scarred and breathing becomes increasingly difficult.
One patient said: “The height of the pandemic was a very scary time for all of us and it was always great to be able to see Pat fortnightly on Zoom. Without that, I don't know what I and the rest of us would have done.”
Two new awards were celebrated on the evening including the Directors of Nursing Award, sponsored by the Health and Social Care Trusts. This was won by Sharon McRoberts, Assistant Director at the South Eastern HSC Trust. The Independent Sector Nursing Award, sponsored by Balmoral Healthcare, was won by Sharon Smyth, Care Home Manager at Hutchinson Care Homes.
Mary Hinds won the Kathleen Robb Award for Outstanding Contribution to Nursing, sponsored by NIPEC.
Remarkable commitment
Health Minister Robin Swann said: “I congratulate Gary on this great achievement winning Nurse of the Year 2022. Your commitment to caring and helping people recover from addiction is remarkable.
“You are all deserving of our admiration and it is very clear to me from my engagements and interactions with nurses, nursing students, nursing assistants and midwives that your commitment to the people you serve is unfaltering.
“I want to take this opportunity to reiterate my support and commitment to you as a profession and recognise all of you that are nominated for the awards tonight for their outstanding accomplishments over the past year, but also I want to thank all nurses and midwives in our HSC for your steadfast and unwavering commitment to the vocation. You have a unique gift and this evening’s event demonstrates that. Be proud of your profession and of the service you provide.”
Changing lives for the better
Director of the RCN in Northern Ireland Rita Devlin said: “Through his innovative and caring approach to care, Gary has changed the lives of many for the better. Working throughout the pandemic, he has created a new service and a different approach to treating those struggling with substance misuse and addition. Despite being a relatively new service, there has been promising evidence supporting the impact of the ARC programme to the ongoing mental health and wellbeing of service users.
“Nursing staff, like other health care professionals, have been through one of the most turbulent periods in health care history. Through these awards we have heard of the extraordinary achievements of nurses and health care support workers during this time and the impact this has had on patient care.
“We are so fortunate to have nursing staff in Northern Ireland whose skills and expertise are in demand throughout the world and we need to ensure that they feel supported, recognised and valued for everything they do.
“As we move forward, nursing staff will continue to be committed to transforming and improving services and care for patients. This has been a wonderful opportunity to recognise and celebrate their many achievements and my heartfelt thanks and congratulations to each and every finalist.”