Queens Nurse, Liz Alderton, a Community Nurse Team Lead and Specialist Community Practice Teacher, based at the Harold Hill Health Centre in Havering received a British Empire medal (BEM) for services to nursing over the weekend.

The BEM is traditionally given to those who have served their communities. Liz was nominated by the chief executive of the Queen’s Nursing Institute and her citation, as well as listing her 40 years of nursing (35 of which have been in the community) and many achievements connected to her nursing career, also mentioned that she has run five London marathons since 2012, raising £20,000 pounds for Havens Hospices in the process.

Liz Alderton said: "The investiture itself was very low key and considerably constrained due to COVID-19 pandemic. It was at Chelmsford Civic Centre, not Buckingham Palace where it would traditionally take pace. There were six of us receiving medals and we were permitted only one guest each, all seated several metres apart and wearing masks, of course. I am still hoping to go to a Buckingham Palace garden party and to meet the Queen, next summer, if the pandemic allows.

"I was honoured to receive the British Empire medal for services to nursing and accepted it on behalf of all district nurses – a vital but under-recognised resource within the NHS."

Chief Nurse, Stephanie Dawe, said: "Huge congratulations to Liz on this amazing achievement, she is a role model to nurses everywhere and truly deserves this recognition. Liz has shown a remarkable dedication to district nursing throughout her lengthy career, having also achieved the Queens Nurse title. We are extremely proud to have amazing nurses like Liz work at NELFT, helping us to provide the highest quality care to our patients.”