A Paediatric Nurse who specialises in making sure children and their families receive the best care at the end of their lives has been awarded the prestigious title of Queen’s Nurse.
Suzanne Ward, 51, walked through the doors of Derian House Children’s Hospice 13 years ago as a Registered Nurse – and since completing her Masters Degree in 2020, is one of the first Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACPS) to operate within a hospice environment.
The Queen’s Nurse is a prestigious and historic title which is given to nurses who are delivering and leading outstanding care and is awarded by the Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI).
The title is open to registered nurses with more than five years’ experience working in the community. Managers and patients provide feedback about applicants, which is assessed along with their application.
“Becoming a nurse has always been my dream since being a young child,” said Suzanne, of Astley, Greater Manchester.
“The day I qualified as a Paediatric Nurse, 14 years ago, was one of the proudest moments of my life. And now, I am so very proud of my role as one of the first Advanced Clinical Practitioners within a hospice environment. Seeing the difference my role makes to Derian House families is a huge achievement.
“As a nurse, I am constantly striving to achieve high standards of practice and delivering excellent patient-centred care to all our families – making sure all care is tailored to the child and their family’s needs.
“I am proud to be an ambassador for nursing, whether it has been working in an acute environment on the ward, caring for sick children, or supporting children and their families when they receive a palliative diagnosis.
“I am very aware there are few nursing professionals with skills and experience required to provide children’s palliative care in the community. My personal vision is that every baby, child, young person, and their families, should receive the best palliative nursing care by a knowledgeable and skilled nurse, within their preferred place of care.
“To have received the Queen’s Nurse title means the absolute world and is the most amazing achievement of my nursing career. The award will allow me to continue my commitment to improving paediatric palliative care across the region.”
Catherine Randall, Chief Nurse at Derian House Children’s Hospice, said: “Congratulations to our incredible colleague, Suzanne, who has been awarded the prestigious Queen’s Nurse title – it is a great honour.
“Your dedication, compassion and commitment to excellence in nursing inspires us all. We are so proud of you.”
Derian House Children’s Hospice, based in Chorley, Lancashire, cares for more than 400 babies, children, young people and their families from across the North West.
Care is free to families at Derian House, but it will cost £6million to run the hospice this year. The charity receives little in government funding and so relies on kind-hearted supporters to raise 70p in every £1.
