A special nursing celebration in the Western Isles: QNIS celebrates 130 year anniversary

Nurses, past and present, from across the Western Isles, gathered at the Caberfeidh Hotel in Stornoway recently to celebrate 130 years of the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland (QNIS).

The event on September 24 included a welcome by Kathleen McCulloch, Community Lead Nurse, NHS Western Isles, and speeches by Annetta Smith, Head of Nursing, University of the Highlands and Islands; William Findlay, Nurse, Midwife and Allied Health Professional (AHP) Director/Chief Operating Officer, NHS Western Isles; Ron Culley, Chief Officer, Health and Social Care; and Jonathan Sher, Deputy Director, QNIS.

It was particularly special to have a number of Western Isles retired nurses in attendance, including the most senior Queen’s Nurse in the Western Isles, 91-year-old Morag Cunningham from Scalpay, who cut the cake (pictured with the most recent Western Isles Queen’s Nurse, Coleen McLeod).

Five Western Isles nurses also received well-deserved long service awards on the day: Catherine Jacek, Community Psychiatric Nurse; Susan Matheson, Health Visitor; Donna Macdonald, Community Nurse; Morag Montgomery, Community Nurse; and Dolina Laing, Community Nurse.

NHS Western Isles Nurse, Midwife and AHP Director/Chief Operating Officer, William Findlay, commented: “I would like to thank the staff who organised and attended this excellent event, which showcased the incredible work that our nursing workforce carries out each and every day in the Western Isles.

“The nurses who received long-service awards have provided care for a combined total of 129 years, and were thoroughly deserving of their awards. Nurses enjoy a diverse career that really makes a difference. Nurses act as leaders, carers and clinicians, taking responsibility for the care they provide to patients. I cannot think of a more rewarding and worthwhile career and I’d like to thank our entire nursing workforce, on behalf of NHS Western Isles and the wider community, for the service they provide to our local population.”