Nurse honoured with the title of Queen’s Nurse
Andie Day, Palliative Care and Cancer Specialist Liaison Nurse with Dartmouth Caring, has been awarded the title of ‘Queen’s Nurse’ for her exceptional professional and voluntary commitment to patient care and nursing within the community. This title recognises Andie’s passion and enthusiasm for supporting both palliative care and wellbeing in local communities.
Andie works for Dartmouth Caring a charitable organisation that supports those in need across Dartmouth and the surrounding villages. Her clinical work is done in partnership with Dartmouth Medical Practice.
The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI), which appoints Queen’s Nurses was created in 1887 to mark Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, making it the oldest nursing charity in the world.
The QNI is dedicated to improving the nursing care of people in their own homes and communities. The QN title is awarded to registered nurses who have demonstrated consistently high standards of practice in community nursing.
Andie Day has been a nurse for 32 years, holding senior nursing posts in The Royal Marsden Hospital and Marie Curie. After 17 years of working as a Community Specialist Nurse in various hospices across the country, Andie began her work with Dartmouth Caring and created the Palliative Care and Cancer Liaison service (PCCLS), which started operating in 2017.
The PCCLS is a unique service and was created to help patients and their families in Dartmouth and surrounding villages who may have a life limiting illness who need palliative care support at an early stage of their illness. It also helps those patients’ who may be undergoing treatment for cancer who need a short period of support.
In addition to her professional career, Andie created a local wellbeing voluntary group in her home village. This was originally designed to help deal with the many issues facing vulnerable people in a rural community during the COVID 19 pandemic. During this time Andie received a local COVID heroes award for her professional work. Andie’s voluntary work continues, supporting her local community, providing advocacy support and helping individuals to navigate the care system.
Andie said; “Being awarded the title of Queen’s Nurse is extremely humbling and a great honour. It will assist me in my passion for nursing palliative care patients in the community and to support the wellbeing of people in rural communities. Being a part of a historic institute is a great privilege and I look forward to networking with other Queen’s Nurses and sharing our experiences to enhance the lives of our patients.”
Dr Karin Chopin, Palliative Care Lead for Dartmouth Medical Practice, stated: “We are delighted that Andie’s outstanding care for our patients has been recognised and honoured in this way”.
Nick Hindmarsh, Manager at Dartmouth Caring, said “The Charity is extremely proud of Andie’s achievements for her patients and this recognition is hard earned and highly deserved.”