Nurse at Spalding’s Johnson Community Hospital is awarded Queen’s title

An infection prevention nurse at The Johnson Community Hospital, Spalding, has been awarded the title of Queen’s Nurse.

Gale Bull based is now the 17th Queen’s Nurse at Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS).

“I am very proud to be a Queen’s Nurse and to be a part of the fantastic Queen’s Nurse Institute network,” said Gale, who was nominated by three former patients.
“It was a real surprise to be nominated but I am extremely humbled and honoured to join other Queen’s Nurses who share the same values and are committed to a high level of patient care.”.

Jane Cummings (chief nursing officer for NHS England) with Queen’s Nurse Gale Bull holding her award.

The title by community nursing charity The Queen’s Nursing Institute is not an award for past service, but indicates a commitment to high standards of patient care, learning and leadership.

Gale’s career started in 1989 and she was one of 12 nurses on the very last intake of Enrolled Nurses in the UK. She qualified as a registered general nurse two years later.

After 19 years in vascular and general surgery at Peterborough and Stamford Hospital, Gale made the transition to community nursing five years ago.

Sue Cousland, chief nurse and director of operations at LCHS, said: “We are very proud of our growing team of Queen’s Nurses at Lincolnshire Community Health Services and they are rightly recognised for the contributions they make to patient care and the development of our future nurses and leaders.

“We offer our best wishes and congratulations to Gale for her achievements.”

Crystal Oldman, chief cxecutive of the Queen’s Nursing Institute, said: “Congratulations are due to Gale and her success. Community nurses operate in an ever more challenging world and our role is to support them as effectively as we can.”

Gale is looking forward to attending her first Queen’s Nurse conference in September and developing her own knowledge.

The 16th recipient of the award was Long Sutton case manager Claire Walpole, nominated by patient Christine Wicks.