The Sue Pembrey Award 2020

The winner: Gillian Raine

The judging panel: Professor Jan Dewing (Sue Pembrey Chair, Queen Margaret University Edinburgh), Professor Angie Titchen (retired), Professor Steven Ersser (Bournemouth University) and Jo Odell (FoNS) are delighted to announce that the Sue Pembrey award 2020 has been made to Gillian Raine supported by the Pembrey family.

Gillian is lead nurse at Marie Curie Hospice, Newcastle.

She joined the hospice from a local acute trust at a time when the hospice was going through a period of change. She was able to use her leadership abilities to bring about ‘transformation of practice in her workplace, organisation and profession’. Gillian worked hard to re-define the senior nursing team as clinical leads rather than office-based roles.

Her colleague commented: ‘Gillian is always approachable and open to ideas. I’m always made to feel a valued and respected member of the team and [feel] able to grow because of this.’

The judges commented: Gillian ‘lives her philosophy of person-centred leadership’. She believes in the value of looking after and caring for staff, working alongside them and helping them to learn.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she focussed on open and honest communication with everyone involved – staff, patients, carers and families. She didn’t ask them to do anything she would not do herself.

Gillian believes this award will enable her to inspire other staff to take on leadership roles and show how important nurse leaders are. She said ‘I am extremely honoured to accept this award in Sue’s name.’

Highly commended

The judges also wished to commend the two other short-listed candidates

Jillian Hartin

Jillian is senior nurse in the Patient Emergency Response and Resuscitation Team at University College Hospital, London, where she still routinely works on the wards.

As someone herself who was helped to learn by nurses with expertise, Jillian is aware that she can be a role model for others.

Susan Holland

Susan is an Alzheimer’s Scotland nurse consultant at NHS Ayrshire & Arran where she was a key part of the development of the Carers’ Academy, which offers educational experiential learning for carers to enable them to develop a deeper understanding of dementia and to be able to care for their loved one.

About Sue Pembrey

Dr Sue Pembrey was one of the UK’s outstanding nursing leaders of the late twentieth century. Her primary contributions included supporting the academic development of clinical nursing and the development of nursing practice through the strengthening of the ward sister’s leadership role and pioneering a commitment to patient/person-centred hospital care.

The Sue Pembrey Award aims to sustain the translation of her research and practice development contribution regarding the vital role clinical leaders play in creating person-centred cultures and high quality nursing care, within which all can flourish.

The judging panel comprises: Professor Jan Dewing (Sue Pembrey Chair, Queen Margaret University Edinburgh), Professor Angie Titchen (retired), Professor Steven Ersser (Bournemouth University) and Jo Odell (FoNS).