A CUMNOCK woman was recently awarded the prestigious title of Queen’s Nurse. 

Elaine Wilson, who is based with a practice located across three sites in Patna, Coylton and Dalrymple, was selected last year to take part in a nine-month development programme.

She joined the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland (QNIS0) after being nominated by her employer for providing high quality, compassionate care to people in their communities.

After completing the programme successfully, she was awarded the historic Queen’s Nurse title along with 18 other community nurses including Gayle Ridge from South Ayrshire Community Mental Health Team – only the third time the honour has been made in Scotland in almost 50 years following the reintroduction of the title in 2017.  

Elaine has been at Riverside Medical Practice since she qualified in 2015, firstly as a treatment room nurse then as practice nurse.

She said: “I’ve started the role with a positive vision of how I can make a real difference to the people I meet.

“Being a Queen’s Nurse has given me the confidence to grow in my role. It has allowed me to see the difference that committed nurses can make.

“A vital part of my role is health promotion and education and there is so much potential for change in a community like ours.

“I want to be a role model for others, constantly exploring new ways of working together to improve people’s lives.

“I am passionate about the potential that general practice nurses have to support people to live well.

“We are in the heart of our communities and have a unique group of skills and knowledge that can help improve health and wellbeing.”