A nurse who has dedicated five decades to working in the NHS has been invited to a royal garden party in recognition of her lengthy service.
Loraine Priest, who works as a Senior Infection and Prevention Control Nurse at Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, received the invitation to attend His Majesty’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace as a mark of thanks for her 50 years of service as a nurse in the NHS.
She will attend the garden party with her husband Simon on 21 May, an experience she has described as an honour and a privilege.
Loraine said: “I feel absolutely honoured and privileged to receive this once in a lifetime invitation to His Majesty’s Garden Party.
“My husband and I will be just two of the many people in attendance on Tuesday, but just being there is just such a wonderful opportunity, to be able to wander around the Palace gardens, take part in an exquisite afternoon tea and hopefully get to see members of the Royal family as they also move through the grounds.
“It’s all just so exciting and I have to keep pinching myself to check it is really happening to me! Just the whole atmosphere and thought of being there is overwhelming.”
Loraine joined the NHS as a nurse cadet aged 16 back in 1973, before completing her nurse training in 1978.
Loraine built her career in Sandwell, caring for patients as a general nurse in Edward Street Hospital and the old Hallam Hospital and then Sandwell Hospital where she was promoted to ward sister and also helped set up the hospital’s first pre-op assessment service.
It was infection prevention and control where she found her passion and she has worked in the field for the past 28 years, which brought her to Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust where she is based at Bushey Fields Hospital in Dudley, helping to improve the quality of patient care and the clinical environment for patients and staff.
Through her many years in nursing Loraine is no stranger to celebrating the milestone years of the NHS. Back in 2008 she was invited to the 60th anniversary commemorations at Westminster Abbey, an experience she described as a “privilege”.
Looking back on her long career, Loraine is eager to encourage the next generation of nurses to flourish in the NHS.
Loraine added: “To anyone starting a career in nursing I would say it’s a wonderful career – every day is different and it’s a lifelong learning journey full of opportunities to progress.
“All clinical staff should treat every patient as you would wish to be treated, with kindness and compassion underlined with good evidence based practice.
“Starting on your career journey, continually working hard is how to be successful.”