OUTSTANDING service over a 30-year career in nursing has earned Gwent-based Claire Aston a prestigious national award.

The Aneurin Bevan Health Board’s head of complex care picked up a Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother’s Award for outstanding service, from the Queen’s Nursing Institute.

The award is given out twice yearly, and Mrs Aston was among just three nurses awarded the honour from the latest round of nominations for excellence in community-based nursing.

An unswerving commitment to maintaining dignity and compassion for patients is at the heart of her work in Gwent, where she is responsible for managing teams delivering packages of continuing healthcare and other specialist nurseled care across the area.

This involves staff working in the community and going into people’s homes and care homes to provide that support, often on a 24-hour basis.

“Whatever we do should be about the person we are caring for,” said Mrs Aston.

“When we are discussing cases or having team meetings we always remind ourselves that any one of us is a potential patient.

“It is challenging, but there is joy and a deep sense of satisfaction in the knowledge that we can make a difference.”

Mrs Aston worked extensively in England early in her career, where she first became involved in care of the elderly, a subject that is a fundamental part of her current role.

Professor Jane Salvage, who is to take up the chairmanship of the QNI in August, paid tribute to the work done by Mrs Aston and other award-winners.

“The public are not always aware of the complexities and challenges of delivering great care, but we know that community nurses do a wonderful job in very tough times,” she said.