TWO community nurses caring for people in Tavistock have been named Queen’s Nurse, in recognition of their commitment to provide the best possible care for the people they serve.

Livewell Southwest nurses Sonia Green and Jo Beniston received their award at a national ceremony in London and both said they were honoured to have been given the award.

The award is for nurses working in the community for more than five years and recognises commitment to high standards of patient care, learning and leadership. The tough assessment process for the sought-after title involves testimony from colleagues, managers and patients.

The awards are good news for people in and around Tavistock, as the community nurses caring for them are led by Queen’s Nurses, both during the day and when the sun goes down and the out of hours team clocks on.

Jo is district nursing team manager, based in Tavistock, who joined Livewell Southwest two years ago.

She said: ‘The Queen’s Nursing Institute champions the role of district nurses and its vision is to achieve high-quality, community-based care by promoting excellence, innovation and reform.

‘Not only am I committed to providing the highest quality of care for our patients but I also strive to ensure that my nursing teams feel supported in their role, enabling them to give the people of Tavistock the best possible support and care.’

Sonia has worked in the out of hours community nursing team for ten years and has been manager for the past 18 months.

Sonia said: ‘Working in the out of hours team is a privilege as patients are often at their most vulnerable during the twilight and night hours. But it can also feel a bit isolating. Being a Queen’s Nurse is a huge honour and it opens up networking opportunities and a chance to share and learn best practice with other Queen’s Nurses.’

Dr Adam Morris, Livewell Southwest chief executive, said: ‘Our Queen’s Nurses exemplify what it means to be an outstanding, caring, innovative and professional nurse and I’m proud to congratulate Sonia and Jo for their award.

‘Our community nurses play a central role in helping people to remain well, independent and at home and this award recognises that. I know they are an inspiration to others as we continue to improve care and support for people in their own communities.’

The Queen’s Nursing Institute is a registered charity founded in 1887 which believes in the best possible nursing care for people at home. It works with nurses and decision-makers to ensure that good quality nursing is available to everyone, when they need it.