A nurse from Larbert is among a group of 24 extraordinary community nurses and midwives to have been awarded the prestigious title of Queen’s Nurse.

Chloe Richardson, a Community Learning Disability Charge Nurse at NHS Forth Valley, was selected earlier this year to take part in a nine-month development programme run by the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland (QNIS).

After completing the programme successfully, Chloe was awarded the Queen’s Nurse title along with 23 other community nurses and midwives at a ceremony staged on Friday (24 November) evening at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Edinburgh.

Queen’s Nursing in Scotland dates back to the late 19th century, when nurses completed specific training which allowed them to work as district nurses. They provided healthcare and health promotion to people in their own homes and became well respected figures within their community.

Following the introduction of a national certificate for district nursing, QNIS ceased training, awarding the original QN District Nursing title for the final time in 1969. The Queen’s Nurse title was reintroduced to Scotland in 2017, with 20 community nurses chosen to take part in a transformational development programme which would see them become the first modern Queen’s Nurses. There are now over 150 contemporary Queen’s Nurses working across Scotland.

QNIS is a small charity and the QNDP is funded by grant making trusts and donations. We are incredibly grateful to the charitable trusts who have helped to fund candidates for the 2023 Queen’s Nurse programme. Without this financial support the programme would not be possible.

The Burdett Trust for Nursing has generously funded four candidates who are focusing their learning on primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. The Dunhill Medical Trust has supported six candidates who work with older people. NHS Lothians Charity continues to fund a nurse from NHS Lothian. One candidate has been funded by a scholarship from The General Nursing Council.

Scotland’s Gardens Scheme has been our funding partner since 1931 and we remain hugely honoured to be supported by this remarkable group of gardeners.

Nurses are selected by employer nomination and subsequent panel interviews for their clinical expertise and compassionate care.

This year, 24 community nurses/midwives were selected to complete the nine-month programme which consists of residential workshops, online workshops and individual coaching sessions.

The programme requires them to choose an issue for development which will have a significant impact on those they care for, so that the learning during the nine months is applied in practice. There is an expectation that this work will have a focus on promoting equity and inclusion.

Community nurses and midwives provide a wide range of support to the people in their communities including complex care for older people, support for substance misuse and advocacy for people with learning disabilities.

Those working in community mental health, district nursing, school nursing, care home nursing and health visiting are also part of this vital group of health professionals.

Clare Cable, QNIS Chief Executive and Nurse Director, said: “These 24 exceptional individuals can be deservedly proud of being awarded this prestigious title.

“From the late 1880s, Queen’s Nurses were social reformers who were taking public health into people’s homes to help families take better care of themselves. The modern Queen’s Nurses are building on this proud heritage – sharing this pioneering spirit to improve the health and wellbeing of the communities of Scotland.

“Their roles vary, from bringing care to those who have experienced significant adversity to supporting people in mental distress or end of life care.

“They represent the geography of Scotland, from rural communities and small islands to concentrated areas within the big cities, but they all demonstrate nursing and midwifery excellence which makes a real difference to the lives of the people they work with.”