Celebrating dedication: Long Service Awards presented to nurses working in defence healthcare

The Forum, held on Wednesday 21 May at Kinloss Barracks, home of 39 Engineer Regiment, saw nurses from across the region attend in person (and virtually), gathering in the welcoming surroundings of 27 AEC to learn, share, and celebrate.

The forum’s theme, Celebrating Nursing, was chosen in honour of International Nurses Day, held annually on 12 May, the birthday of Florence Nightingale. With that in mind, the forum not only featured an informative and diverse clinical programme but also incorporated a ceremony to recognise the outstanding contributions of several local nurses.

The morning’s agenda included a keynote presentation from Shirley Catto, Neurology Specialist Nurse at NHS Grampian, on Parkinson’s disease. Additional sessions included a brief overview of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and an update from SO2 DPHU Gary Holden, who discussed Strongyloides, changes to the Notifications of Infectious Diseases (NOIDs) dashboard, FMed85s, and recent vaccination developments.

However, the highlight of the day came with the presentation of Long Service Awards (LSAs) from the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland (QNIS), recognising those who have served 21 years or more in community nursing roles while residing in Scotland. This year marked the first time such awards were presented to nurses within the Defence Primary Healthcare (DPHC) SNI community.

After reaching out to all DPHC Scotland nurses, five individuals were identified as eligible — with a remarkable collective total of 126 years of nursing service, 91 of which were spent directly supporting service personnel. Certificates and badges were received in time for the event, along with celebratory cakes to mark the occasion.

Four of the five awardees were present to receive their honours:

• Anna Busse – 22 years of service in PHC, including deployment in Op Telic and postings to Kuwait, Iraq, Cyprus, Germany, and Barbados. Anna transitioned from military to civilian nursing following her PMRAFNS career.

• Tracey Corbett – Also with 22 years in PHC, Tracey began as a treatment room sister before becoming a Practice Nurse. She has worked at HMS Neptune since 2017.

• Joanie McKay – 26 years of service in PHC, starting in NHS Grampian and moving into DPHC at Kinloss Barracks. Joanie worked her way from Band 5 to Band 6, thriving despite the “steep learning curve” of MoD acronyms!

• Marie O’Hare – Another nurse with 26 years in PHC and a career that has spanned the globe, including deployments to the Falklands, Gibraltar, Iraq, Canada, and Afghanistan.

Unfortunately, Gill Buchan, with 25 years’ service, could not attend on the day. Gill began her career at Redford Barracks and later transitioned to PHC, where she continues to make a valued contribution.

This event marked not just the professional growth of the community but a heartfelt tribute to those whose work underpins Defence healthcare. Thank you to all nurses across Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Defence — military and civilian — for your continued service and commitment.