Pauline Casey, Lead Nurse and Head of Service for Older Peoples Mental Health in the Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust) has been crowned the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Northern Ireland Nurse of the Year 2016.
Pauline (pictured), from outside Claudy, received the top honour in the hotly contested Nurse of the Year Award category at the 20th annual RCN Nurse of the Year Awards ceremony, held at Hillsborough Castle.
The Nurse of the Year Award is presented to a nurse who has led innovative change in practice that greatly improves the lives of their patients.
Pauline was nominated for her work in reforming mental health care for older people, in particular the remodeling of care provided to dementia patients.
The new model of service ultimately ensures that people living with dementia are supported more in their homes and local communities. Pauline also led in improving the experience for dementia patients having to stay in hospital.
Gerard Guckian, chairman of the Western Trust said: “ I am just delighted to have been present when Pauline Casey beat off stiff competition to receive the top honour at the RCN Nurse Of The Year Awards.
“Pauline is a first class nurse and driven head of service with a passion for improving dementia care.
“We in the Western Trust are immensely proud of Pauline and this tremendous accolade is so well deserved. We are fortunate to have her working within the Trust leading, developing and improving services for our patients and clients.”
The Western Trust celebrated a double achievement at the awards as Consultant Nurse in Critical Care, Brian McFetridge received highly commended in the Chief Nursing Officer Award category. Brian received the award for his work in developing a bespoke patient transfer trolley that is now used regionally in the transfer of critically ill patients.
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