A community nurse working for the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RSABI) has been selected for the Queen’s Nurse Award.
Irene Scott has been working for the agricultural charity on the delivery of its health hut initiative over the past year.
The Queen’s Nurse Award is awarded by the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland (QNIS) to recognise high levels of commitment to patient care and nursing practice.
Scott has been working with RSABI to take 100s of farmers’ blood pressures at agricultural events, as well as offering health and wellbeing advice to people in the Scottish agriculture sector.
“To be selected for the Queen’s Nurse Award is a real honour, especially when QNIS only offer this programme to a small number of health professionals, from all areas of community nursing across Scotland, each year,” Scott said.
“My work with RSABI’s Health Hut encompasses all the values outlined in the Queen’s Nurse programme and I am looking forward to being part of the future development of the health hut in Scotland.”
As well as blood pressure testing, the RSABI Health Hut at Thainstone has been offering cholesterol tests, early diabetes detection and advice on a wide range of physical and mental wellbeing areas – from alcohol consumption to nutrition and exercise.
Irene Scott
Scott comes from a family farm in Fife and is aware of the challenges faced by farmers who often live in remote locations with long working hours, RSABI said.
The charity said many farmers, spurred on by health hut feedback from Scott and the RSABI team, have made appointments with their GP to make changes to their lifestyles to improve their health.
RSABI chair, Jimmy McLean, congratulated Scott: “Irene has been an integral part of our health hut initiative, and it is wonderful to see her being recognised as a Queen’s Nurse.
“With Irene’s professionalism and love of farming, RSABI have had an excellent response to the health hut project and we are looking forward to taking the project forward and looking at rolling it out around the country.”
Health hut
Scott will be back in action on February 28 with the RSABI Health Hut to offer farmers attending the Royal Northern Agricultural Society Spring Show the opportunity to have a free health check.
Attendees will have the opportunity to have their blood pressure and cholesterol checked on the day, as well as a test for early detection of diabetes.
The RSABI aims to encourage show-goers to think more about their wellbeing by providing an opportunity to confidentially discuss any mental or physical health concerns they have.
Chief executive of ANM Group, Grant Rogerson, said: “It is fantastic that Irene has been recognised as a Queen’s Nurse through the delivery of the RSABI Health Hut in partnership with ANM Group – it is thoroughly well-deserved and huge congratulations to Irene from everyone at ANM.
“The initiative, through Irene’s passion, caring, knowledge and skill, offers great support to individual farmers, and we have been delighted with its success at Thainstone Centre.
“We encourage all visitors attending the Spring Show to make the most of the Health Hut at the event.”
