Lizzie's fantastic career honoured with MBE
A retired UHDB nurse has seen her fantastic contribution to stoma care honoured with a place on the New Year's Honours list.
Stoma Nurse Lizzie Evans will be awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the New Year, in recognition of the impact she’s had on a generation of patients across Derbyshire.
Needless to say, Lizzie wasn’t expecting to receive such a “great Christmas present” in the post and nearly made a big mistake when she opened the letter revealing the good news.
She said: “I initially thought it was junk mail; a hoax, so I told my husband to chuck the letter in the bin! When I realised that it was real though, I was completely overwhelmed and I still can’t believe that a normal person like me is able to get something like this. This is one of the loveliest things to ever happen to me in my whole life.
“This award is for everyone I’ve worked with; the whole stoma team are incredible. My family are so chuffed and I’m really excited now to go to the palace at some point next year – I’ll have to buy myself a new frock!”
Last year saw Lizzie bring a fine nursing career to an end at Royal Derby Hospital – 37 years on from beginning her life in the NHS at the former Derbyshire Royal Infirmary (DRI), where she completed her training.
The vast majority of this time – 27 years, to be precise – was spent developing stoma care services in the county and Lizzie admitted that helping these patients was more than just a job to her; it was her “passion in life”.
She said: “I got into nursing because I wanted to do some good and to help people, and you really feel like you’ve made a difference in stoma care. I’ve given it everything I have and have loved doing it. It’s so rewarding – you get back what you put in and get to play a significant part in the patient’s journey by helping get them back to a place where they can function in the real world again.
“The patients are just amazing. They suffer so much, so deserve every bit of love and care that you can give them. I didn’t get into nursing for any of this recognition but it is so lovely and I feel very lucky.”
Lizzie spent the entirety of her 37-year NHS career in Derbyshire – working at the DRI, Royal Derby Hospital and in the community as a District Nurse.
Krishna Kallianpur, Acting Chief Nurse at UHDB, said: “We’re extremely proud of the stoma care we are able to offer to our patients and Lizzie has played an absolutely pivotal role in developing such a world class service.
"Everyone that knows Lizzie will know just how well deserved this award is and so I couldn’t be happier to see her receive this recognition. I have nothing but complete admiration for her unfailing support and care for stoma patients and think it’s just so fitting that she be recognised for these values in 2020, in the Year of the Nurse and Midwife.”