A DEDICATED nurse at St Luke's Hospice has been recognised for her efforts by being given a prestigious title.

Kirsty Sewell-Threadgold, who is a specialist in lymphoedema management at the hospice, has been given the prestigious title of Queen’s Nurse by the community nursing charity The Queen’s Nursing Institute.

The title of Queen’s Nurse is given to community nurses who are committed to high standards of practice and patient-centred care. The application process is rigorous and Kirsty was supported in her application by her manager and patients.

"I feel really honoured to have been given the title of Queen’s Nurse," Kirsty said.

"I love my job and I want to do more to raise the profile of lymphoedema and I hope that this will give me a platform to do that.

"I’m a little nervous but also very excited.

"There are annual meetings and opportunities to network with other Queen’s Nurses and I’m really looking forward to that.

"I think it will benefit St Luke’s and the CCICP (Cheshire Community Integrated Care Partnership) and also the service I provide to patients.

"As a nurse I want to be in a position where I can help people and positively shape their lives in whatever way I can, and this gives me an opportunity to build on that."

Having qualified as a Nurse in 2005, Kirsty spent a year working in a hospital before moving into community nursing.

She completed a degree in District Nursing and joined St Luke’s in 2016 as a lymphoedema specialist.

Kate Henshaw, Director of Care at St Luke’s Hospice, said: "Congratulations to Kirsty for such a prestigious achievement which is thoroughly deserved.

"Kirsty, along with the lymphoedema team, provide an outstanding service to local patients within our community and I’m thrilled that her hard work and dedication to her patients has been recognised."

St Luke’s lymphoedema clinics support around 1,000 patients each year. Lymphoedema is a long-term condition which causes swelling in the body’s tissues.

Although there is no cure, it is possible to control the main symptoms using techniques to reduce fluid build-up and stimulate the flow of fluid through the lymphatic system.