MID ARGYLL CARE WOMEN HONOURED BY HM THE KING
Two very special Mid Argyll women have been honoured in the New Year Honours List, both of whom work in the care sector, writes Rita Campbell.
Denise Murdoch of Ardrishaig, senior operations manager for Carr Gomm, was awarded an MBE for services to older people in Argyll and Bute.
And Sheena Stewart of Minard, warden at Chalmers Court sheltered housing complex in Inveraray, was appointed a BEM for services to the community in Mid Argyll.
Denise, 64, has worked for Carr Gomm for 25 years. She moved to Argyll from Midlothian 14 years ago after falling in love with the place.
When Carr Gomm won its first tender from Argyll and Bute Council, she relocated to lead the work.
Denise recruited and trained teams throughout six population centres across the area to deliver a new overnight responder service.
She and her teams responded to calls, mostly from older people, which helped to prevent ambulance
Denise Murdoch of Ardrishaig has been awarded an MBE in HM the King’s New Year Honours.
call-outs and expedite hospital discharges. Her teams support people after a fall, using emergency lifting cushions. They carry out reviews to ensure that elderly clients have the right equipment to help independent living.
A broad range of health and welfare needs are assisted with. These include managing catheters and morphine pumps, and ensuring food and medicines are available.
Following the success of the overnight responder, Denise realised that extending the service to operate in daytime hours would complement existing care-at-home supports.
Within five years, this service was acquired by Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership and was providing over 2,000 hours of support each week. Denise has recruited and ensures the continual training of almost 300 workers.
She has continued to innovate and more recently provided statutory partners to fund the development and launch of mobile healthcare teams for older people.
The dedicated operations manager and her managers are often on-shift, working from 7am to cover any staff absences, continuing until late into the night.
Reacting to the honour, Denise said: “It very much comes as a surprise. I’m delighted.
“After I met with the council I was just blown away by their forward-thinking and the welcome people get when they move to Argyll. I knew it was a council I wanted to work with.
“We just love Argyll and Bute. We have loved it since the day we came to visit. It felt like this was where we should be.
“I’m retiring in a month or two, but we couldn’t have wished for anywhere better to spend our last working years.