Two community nurses from Stockport and Tameside have each received one of the top nursing awards in the country for their outstanding care and leadership.

Jayne Etches, from Hazel Grove, heads up the Stepping Hill and Victoria district nurse teams. She has been a district nurse for 16 years, and has been caring for patients in Stockport since 2000.

Jayne has received The Queen’s Nurse Award for the excellent care she provides, and for raising the profile of looking after patients in their own home.

Dawn Bennett-Painter, from Hyde works as the lead nurse for the Integrated Service for Children with Additional Needs (ISCAN) service based at Rowan House in Hyde.

Dawn has been a paediatric nurse for 14 years and has worked working in the community for nine years. She has received The Queen’s Nurse Award for the personal care she provides for disabled children and children with complex health needs, as well as the strong leadership she gives to other nurses.

The Queen’s Nurse title is from the Queen`s Nursing Institute, a national charity dedicated to improving nursing care in the community. It honours a commitment to high standards of patient care, learning and leadership. Nurses who hold the title benefit from developmental workshops, bursaries, networking opportunities, and a shared professional identity.

Dawn said; “I am thrilled to receive the title of Queen’s Nurse. It’s a real honour for myself, and also a great recognition for the important work which all the nurses in our team do to support disabled children in Tameside and Glossop.”  

Jayne said; “As more people are cared for at home, community nursing is growing in importance all the time, and it’s fantastic that this importance is recognised. I am delighted pleased to receive this honour, and I would really like to thank my colleagues and patients for nominating me.”

Crystal Oldman, Chief Executive of the Queen’s Nursing Institute said, “I would like to congratulate Jayne and Dawn on their success.  Community nurses operate in an ever more challenging world and our role is to support them as effectively as we can.”

Queen`s Nurse winners - Dawn Bennet-Painter (left) and Jayne Etches are photographed with Viv Bennett, Director of Nursing for Public Health England. Photos courtesy of Kate Stanworth from the Queens Nurse Institute.