A District Nurse from University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) says she is honoured to have received a top award from The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI).
Scarlett Peat, 32, from Bolton-le-Sands, was presented with the prestigious Philip Goodeve-Docker Memorial Prize 2020 for her outstanding work while studying for her District Nursing qualifications at the University of Cumbria in Lancaster.
The QNI is a national charity that works to ensure that patients, families and carers receive the highest standard of nursing care in the community.
Scarlett, who is currently working in the Trust’s Morecambe Area District Nurses team, says she was both surprised and proud to receive the award.
Scarlett said: “I had no idea about the award; I didn’t think I would ever win anything like that. My tutor, Sue Harness from the University of Cumbria, rang me to say she had nominated me.
“It was a lovely surprise to hear I’d actually won the award. Nine months of hard work had paid off. I wanted to study to improve my knowledge and the care I provide. I try to be kind, compassionate, understanding, knowledgeable and on the same level as my patients.”
Scarlett’s award is named in memory of Philip Goodeve-Docker, who in 2013 was raising funds for the QNI by travelling across the Greenland ice sheet.
During the expedition, Philip and his two colleagues became trapped in a sudden and very severe polar storm. Tragically, shortly before rescue could arrive, Philip passed away. 
The prize created in his memory - and with the support of Philip’s family - is given to the most outstanding student on the District Nursing programme in every university in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Before studying to become a District Nurse Scarlett was a Community Staff Nurse with the Trust’s Lancaster District Nurses for five years. She worked with the Trust’s Milnthorpe District Nurses Team while studying to become a fully qualified District Nurse and completed her course in May 2020.
Scarlett’s husband Chris and parents Mike and Kate are all very proud and thrilled about what she has achieved.
Scarlett added: “I always knew that in the long-run I would like to be a District Nurse. I enjoyed the course and I would like to thank my tutor Sue and the team at Milnthorpe for all their support.
“As a District Nurse, my job is to go into people’s homes and provide nursing care to meet their needs. It can be anything from caring for patients with chronic leg ulcers to patients with palliative care needs.
“It’s an incredibly varied job. My job is also to assess patients and to find out what their needs are. I get lots of thanks and appreciation from patients. That makes the job even more rewarding.
“As District Nurses we work with other professionals such as social workers and Diabetic Specialist Nurses. I recognise that every patient has different needs.
“I like the role because there is some continuity of contact with patients. You often get to see things through and people are very grateful for their care. We get to know our patients because we see them often. It’s lovely to see someone getting better and feeling well again.
“My aims now are just to enjoy the job and see what other opportunities come up in the future.”
Dr Crystal Oldman, CBE, Chief Executive of the Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI), said: “I would like to congratulate Scarlett for her significant achievement in being awarded the Philip Goodeve-Docker Memorial Prize.”
Crystal said she hoped that Scarlett would be inspired to champion District Nursing and added: “There are many exciting opportunities to become involved with our work to improve care for patients, carers and families in the community.”
Dr Susan Harness, Queen's Nurse and Senior Lecturer in Community and Public Health at the University of Cumbria, who nominated Scarlett for the award, said: “I would like to congratulate Scarlett as she has been an excellent student during her course and has consistently achieved good marks for her academic work. 
“In addition to this, Scarlett has shown enthusiasm and commitment to her discipline and demonstrated a good positive attitude as a student District Nurse.”
Sue Smith, OBE, Executive Chief Nurse and Deputy Chief Executive of UHMBT, said: “Scarlett is a shining example of all that is great about District Nursing in our Community. She is kind, caring, compassionate and hard-working. We are delighted that Scarlett has received this top honour and that she is looking after our patients with such care, compassion and professionalism.”
Gill Speight, Associate Director of Nursing for the Integrated Community Care Group at UHMBT, added: “Huge congratulations to Scarlett on receiving such a prestigious award. I am so pleased that Scarlett’s academic studies and clinical practice have made such an impact; both will be of benefit to our patients, families and colleagues.”