A nurse who has devoted 37 years to caring for her patients has been shortlisted for a national award.
Yvonne Millerick, 54, from Cumbernauld was one of the UK’s first dedicated heart failure nurses in the UK and the first to be employed within Glasgow’s Royal Infirmary. She currently works with patients, their families and a wide range of professionals as a heart failure palliative care nurse consultant lecturer – providing support at a time when many are at their most vulnerable.
Yvonne is up for the Patient’s Choice Award at the Royal College of Nursing’s annual Nursing Awards.
She was nominated for the award by John Stuart, whose mum Mary Stuart, 88, has heart failure. John said: “Yvonne is amazing. She is compassionate, caring and very knowledgeable about all aspects of care relating to patients with heart failure. She has always been there for us as a family and nothing is ever too much trouble of off limits.
“She frequently visits mum at home to ensure her condition is effectively managed, as well as offering psychological support to mum, dad and the wider family. We can call her any time if there are changes, including out of hours and when she is off duty. The care Yvonne provides is truly personalised and holistic and has included working with other agencies to help with home adaptations, financial support and respite care. This has allowed mum to remain at home surrounded by her loved ones.”
Yvonne started her nursing career at Forth Valley Hospital, before transferring to Glasgow Royal Infirmary in 2000. She is also a lecturer at Glasgow Caledonian University, and has been inspiring the next generation of heart failure specialist nurses and professionals across the UK for 20 years.
Yvonne said: “I’m absolutely delighted, it means so much to me to be nominated by a patient and their family. Thank you to the Stuart family for nominating me.
“I think when people consider palliative care, they think about the loss of all hope; my approach is always to encourage patients and families to live as well as they can and to remember that there is always something we can do to help them to live well.
“We do see patients and families at their most vulnerable due to the impact and uncertainty of the illness on all of them and for me it’s about engaging in meaningful ‘what matters’ conversations from the minute you meet them, through to bereavement. I absolutely empathise with the situation that they are in – I often reflect on what must it be like to be in their shoes and I hope they know I am always there for them regardless.”
The RCN award category is the only one which the public can vote for. John has urged the people of Glasgow and beyond to get behind Yvonne. He added: “I hope Glasgow can get behind Yvonne. Along with the Glasgow Heart Failure Team, they provide a great service, and in recognition of this, I really hope we get behind them and vote for Yvonne.”
Professor Angela Wallace, Nurse Director at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, congratulated Yvonne. She said: “Yvonne is a true NHS hero and a fantastic example of how patient and family centred care can make a huge difference and it comes as no surprise that she has been nominated for this award.
“Not only that, but Yvonne demonstrates that nurses can achieve so much more. As a nurse consultant, she is a conduit to the most effective treatment and as a teacher, she is inspiring the next generation. I wish her well and hope everyone can get behind her and vote.”
Yvonne is looking forward to the award ceremony later this year in London. She joked: “I’ve got an outfit, but I don’t know if I’ll fit into it! I’m really looking forward to it and I’m totally blown away by the nomination and it’s nice to know that even after all this time as a nurse, that my person-centred approach leads to a positive patient and family experience – for me there is simply nothing more rewarding.”
You can vote for Yvonne by clicking here: https://secure.rcni.com/nurse-awards/patients-choice