AN INNOVATIVE Bury nurse who works with diabetic children has been given a prestigious award which will help her patients get the best possible care.

Claire O'Connor, a diabetes specialist with Bury Children’s Community Nursing Team, has collected the prestigious Queen’s Nurse title and received an innovation and leadership award from nursing charity The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI).

The Queen’s Nurse title recognises a commitment to high standards of patient care, learning and leadership, and will give her access to additional development workshops, bursaries, networking opportunities, and a shared professional identity.

Claire, who attended a ceremony in London on May 9, said: “It’s an honour to be recognised and I’m pleased that children’s diabetes nursing will be represented within the Queens Nurse networks.

“Nursing children with diabetes is complex and diverse with lots of daily challenges, but having access to this new network means we can move forward, share ideas and give the best possible care.”

Claire achieved the QNI innovation and leadership award for her work on a joint project, with her colleague Janet Mawdsley and a hospital-based dietician, which focused on structured education for children and young people with type one diabetes.

The initiative, Sugar3, includes an app and website with videos, games and educational materials to help young people and their families manage the condition.

Wendy Thompson, senior manager for children and health improvement at Pennine Care, said: “I’m very proud and want to congratulate Claire and Janet on their fabulous achievement and for developing such innovative care for children with Diabetes in our community”.

Dr Crystal Oldham, chief executive of the QNI, added: “Congratulations are due to Claire for her success. Community nurses are expert professionals who make a vital contribution to patient health and wellbeing every day.”