Nurse Receives Award For Helping Patients Live Independent Lives in Their Own Homes

A nurse who dedicates her time to ensuring more than 7,500 patients in North Wales receive the care they need to live independently in their own homes has received a prestigious award.

40-year-old Anne Williams picked up the Philip Goodeve-Docker Memorial Prize from the Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) for her outstanding achievements as a District Nursing student at Wrexham Glyndwr University.

Anne, from Anglesey, started studying for a Postgraduate Diploma in Community Specialist Practice (District Nursing) at the university following a 13-year career as a staff nurse.

After securing a new post with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board during her studies, she is now responsible for overseeing a district nursing team which provides care in the community.

Anne completed the course while continuing to work as a nurse for 30 hours a week.

Anne said: “I felt I had more to offer after working in various roles during my career as a staff nurse and Wrexham Glyndwr University was the only university in North Wales which offered a specialist course in district nursing.

“I was very surprised when I found out I’d been nominated for the award. It’s a real honour to be recognised by the QNI. I hope I can now carry on performing just as well in my career and continue to improve care for patients and working conditions for staff.”

Anne’s tutor, Alison Williams, Programme Leader for district nursing at Wrexham Glyndwr University, said: “Anne was a great all round student and her work was consistently excellent throughout her studies.”

“I’m particularly proud that her achievements have been recognised by the QNI. The Queen’s Nursing Institute has worked very hard to raise the profile of district nursing in recent years.

“With an increasing ageing population, more and more people need care within community and district nurses have a vital role to play providing this.”

The prize which Anne received is an educational prize created in memory of Mr Philip Goodeve-Docker, who died while raising funds for the QNI on a polar expedition.

The prize is offered to the top performing student of the District Nursing programme in every university in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Queen’s Nursing Institute is a registered charity dedicated to improving the nursing care of people in their own homes.