Top dementia nurse receives commendation for hard work

A NURSE who dedicates her working life to improving the lives of people living with dementia has had her efforts recognised with a prestigious accolade.

Rachel Watson was given the accolade ‘highly commended’ by judges overseeing the prestigious Sue Pembrey Award, which recognises exemplary nurses and midwives across the country.

Rachel, who is senior admiral nurse for Age UK North Tyneside and hails from Northumberland, said: “I feel very humbled to have been nominated for the Foundation of Nursing Services, Sue Pembrey Award, and to have been highly commended is amazing.”

Rachel had led an eight-strong team within the Admiral Nurse and Dementia Service, which operates in a partnership between Dementia UK and Age UK North Tyneside, for three years.

Age UK supports hundreds of sufferers of dementia and their carers every year in North Tyneside, with 381 carers and 560 individuals in North Tyneside helped last year.

The charity provides one-to-one support, specialist groups and activities, peer support, wellbeing centres and care at home for people living with dementia and their carers.

A statement from the judging panel highlighted Rachel’s passion for her work in improving the lives of people with dementia.

It said: “Rachel is passionate about patients and families and how she works and intervenes with families to enable a balance of care of the person with a dementia and for their nearest loved one, who is often the carer.”

The Sue Pembrey Award recognises nursing and midwifery leaders who are excellent role models, are committed to enabling care with a team who feel supported and valued.

Alma Caldwell, chief executive of Age UK North Tyneside, said: “We are very proud of Rachel being highly commended in this prestigious award.

“She is a great ambassador and lead for our wonderful dementia team who provide valuable advice, comfort and support to people with dementia and their families from pre-diagnosis, throughout their dementia journey to end-oflife care.”

■■ For more information on Age UK North Tyneside and the services it offers head to https://www.ageuk. org.uk/northtyneside/.