HOSPICE nurse has been recognised for her outstanding contribution to community nursing by a national organisation.

Vanessa Gibson, who works at St Richard’s Hospice in Worcester, has been awarded the title of Queen’s Nurse by the Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI).

Ms Gibson, of Evesham, qualified as a registered nurse in 1988 and has spent much of her career working in oncology and palliative care.

For the last three years she has worked as the community nurse specialist team leader at St Richard’s, managing a team of 14 and the rapidly growing Hospice at Home service and helping look after more than 500 patients and their families every year.

Ms Gibson has also been involved with a number of initiatives aimed at widening access to end of life care, including building links with a homeless hostel, travelling communities and supporting patients with learning disabilities.

She was thrilled to receive the recognition when the QNI held its annual awards at the Commonwealth Club in London.

“I’m passionate about people receiving high quality, compassionate end of life care and I was delighted to receive the award which shows commitment to high standards of patient care, learning and leadership,” she said. “It’s the team that deserves the award, not just me – we’ve been given it in recognition of the work that we are doing in the community.

“We work within a supportive environment which is keen to develop and work at grass roots level to bring innovative services which respond to patients’ needs and the changing healthcare environment. “Our focus is very much on compassionate and skilled end of life care for all.”

Presenting the award, QNI director, Crystal Oldman, said: “Congratulations are due to Vanessa for her success. “Community nurses operate in an ever more challenging world and our role is to support them as effectively as we can.”