A HEALTH visitor based in Doune has been awarded the title of Queen’s Nurse.

NHS Forth Valley’s Deborah Wishart was nominated by her employers for her high quality, compassionate care and tireless work in rural Stirlingshire.

She was picked to take part in a nine-month development programme run by the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland.

Upon successful completion, Deborah received the title along with 19 other community nurses at a ceremony in Edinburgh this week.

Deborah is based with the team at Doune Health Centre and has nearly 20 years of experience as a community nurse.

She said: “I absolutely love this job, I wouldn’t do anything else.

“As a health visitor I get to know the children and families I meet over a five year-span.

“It is a unique and privileged position to work with families for this extended time - you can see them flourish, you can be there for them in times of crisis and help them through that.

“The Queen’s Nurse programme has been an insightful and revealing journey.

“For me, Queen’s Nurses were the original community nursing pioneers in years gone by and I’m delighted to have been awarded the title.”

Deborah has been a health visitor since 2005 as well as a practice teacher for the past six years.

Lesley Thomson, head of community nursing for NHS Forth Valley, said: “This award is a great way of recognising the important role that health visitors, as part of the community nursing team, play in providing a wide range of services and support to local children and families in their own homes.

“I’m delighted that Deborah has had the opportunity to complete this important nine-month development programme and I am sure she is looking forward to sharing her experience to further improve the care and support delivered to local children and families in Doune and throughout the Forth Valley.”