On Friday 24 April, colleagues gathered at the Lerwick Hotel to celebrate the long service and dedication of NHS Shetland’s community nurses and midwives.
The event welcomed representatives from the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland (QNIS), who met with staff and presented Long Service Awards to those who have dedicated more than 21 years to community nursing and midwifery.
QNIS Chief Executive and Nurse Director, Sarah Doyle, and Professional Nurse Lead, Emma Legge, were warmly received by Chief Nurse Kim Anderson and Keri Ratter, Child Health Nurse Manager and Queen’s Nurse. As part of their wider visit to Shetland, they also delivered taster sessions on Relational Care and Queen’s Nurse leadership, creating valuable opportunities for shared learning and reflection.
At the celebration, they were joined by Nora Peterson, a former district nurse in Shetland who trained with QNIS in Edinburgh. Nora attended alongside her friend Gillian, also a district nurse, whose aunt trained as a Queen’s Nurse in 1937 — reflecting an extraordinary professional legacy spanning nearly nine decades.
QNIS is a charity that supports Scotland’s community nurses and midwives through professional development, with a focus on addressing health and care inequalities. Established in the late 19th century, the organisation reintroduced the Queen’s Nurse title in 2017. There are currently 194 Queen’s Nurses across Scotland.
Speaking at the event, Kim Anderson said: “The long service represents far more than the years in post. It represents the dedication, resilience, and genuine commitments to serving Shetland’s communities, often quietly and without expectation of recognition.
“Today’s event was an opportunity to say thank you. Thank you for the difference that they make to individuals, families, and communities across Shetland, and the pride that they bring to community nursing and midwifery every single day.”
Speaking on the day, QNIS Chief Executive and Nurse Director, Sarah Doyle, said: “Long service awards hold great importance for QNIS. Excellent care is delivered across Scotland by community nurses and midwives every day to support people in their homes and communities. Today was an opportunity to acknowledge the commitment of those who have served their communities for 21 years or more, and it was an honour for us to be able to celebrate with NHS Shetland.”
The event provided a meaningful opportunity to recognise the contribution of community nurses and midwives and to celebrate their ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality care across Shetland’s communities.
A total of 19 awards were presented on the day.