IANG Conference 2016 - Lincoln:

We are proud to announce that Emily Carne, Lead CNS at the Primary Immunodeficiency Centre Wales won the Clinical Nurse Specialist category at the RCN Wales Nurse of the Year Awards.  She was given the following tribute by the RCN:

Emily has worked closely with her clinical team to develop an internationally recognised immunology and allergy service. She promotes shared decision making to enable patients to self-manage their condition. This makes chronic immunodeficiency more bearable and allows patients to live the most fulfilled lives possible. This work is supported by responses from annual patient surveys, patient stories and independent surveys.

Emily is recognised as an expert in Immunodeficiency and Allergy care. She is a member of the UK Primary Immunodeficiency Network (UKPIN) Steering Group, Immunology and Allergy Nurse Group Board (IANG), a clinical advisor for the patient group UK PID and the Immune Deficiency Patients Group Wales. She has coordinated clinical trials which have resulted in substantial savings in drug costs for NHS Wales.

Whilst these trials have opened new options for patients in Wales, they have also led to the licencing of new therapies across Europe. Emily clearly demonstrates leadership and passion in her profession and places high value on patient care within her service.

Many congratulations to Andrew and Sary (Clinical Nurse Specialist and Research Sister) for winning a Royal Free Hospital (RFH) Outstanding Staff Celebration and Rewards (OSCaRs) award in December 2014:

The OSCaRs are an annual event to celebrate excellence within the Trust and prizes are awarded in 9 different categories.

1. Clinician of the year award
2. Unsung hero award
3. Team of the year award
4. Quality, research and/or innovation award
5. Outstanding contribution to education award
6. Outstanding contribution to patient safety award
7. Volunteer of the year award
8. Celebrating diversity award
9. Chairman's leadership award 

The OSCaRs are about celebrating the tremendous work of our staff. They recognise the remarkable achievements accomplished over the past year and the excellent work that has been done to improve the lives of patients. Andrew and Sary were up against some stiff competition but were overall winners in the Quality, Research and Innovation category for their efforts in quality of care delivered to their patients and the service, setting up a virtual web-based training service, organising the recent patient education symposium, writing the patient newsletter, organising and coordinating the research studies with the department and hospital and helping to set up, organise and raise money for the RFH Immunodeficiency patient support group (www.pidpatients.org). They were both delighted to receive their award from Richard and Judy who hosted the ceremony but were happy to point out that winning was only possible from the support given by the rest of the clinical team.