A Renfrewshire care home manager has been awarded the prestigious title of Queen’s Nurse.

Kirsty Cartin was recognised after completing an intensive nine-month training programme run by the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland (QNIS).

She was given her award along with 23 other community nurses and midwives at a ceremony staged last Friday at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Edinburgh.

The Queen’s Nurse title in Scotland dates back to the late 19th century, when nurses provided healthcare to people in their own homes and became well-respected figures within their community.

There are now over 150 Queen’s Nurses working across Scotland including Kirsty, who is manager at Rashielee Care Home in Erskine.

The Gazette:

The elite group are selected by employer nomination and subsequent panel interviews for their clinical expertise and compassionate care.

Clare Cable, QNIS Chief Executive and Nurse Director, said: "These 24 exceptional individuals can be deservedly proud of being awarded this prestigious title.

"From the late 1880s, Queen’s Nurses were social reformers who were taking public health into people’s homes to help families take better care of themselves. The modern Queen’s Nurses are building on this proud heritage – sharing this pioneering spirit to improve the health and wellbeing of the communities of Scotland.

"Their roles vary, from bringing care to those who have experienced significant adversity to supporting people in mental distress or end-of-life care. 

"They represent the geography of Scotland, from rural communities and small islands to concentrated areas within the big cities, but they all demonstrate nursing and midwifery excellence which makes a real difference to the lives of the people they work with."