Betty scoops nurse of the year award
Thursday, 23 October 2008
Betty Calvert receiving her award for ‘nurse of the year’ from Jim McCall MD Four Seasons HC Sponsorer of the Registered Nurse Award. Also included is host of the awards, Nuala McKeever
LOCAL woman Betty Calvert has been named 'nurse of the year' at a glittering Independent Health and Care Providers NI Care awards ceremony held at the Hilton hotel in Templepatrick on October 16.
The ceremony, hosted by Belfast comic Nuala McKeever, was the first of its kind ever to be held in Northern Ireland.
Betty, a nurse at Cornfield Care Centre on the Seacoast Road in Limavady, said she hadn't known she was nominated until a party was held for her golden year in nursing and the good news was given to her.
She said: "There was a staff party recently and my family was invited along with colleagues from Ballymoney and Dr Johnston, who I used to work with. I was told that I was nominated for nurse of the year for private and residential patients. I was very surprised."
As well as Betty, two other staff members from the Cornfield Care Centre were nominated for awards, Mrs Christine Thompson who is a matron and Mr Ewen Harper who works in supply services.
The 67-year-old continued: "There were six categories and at the end of July there were over 200 nominations. Jarvis the boss nominated me, as well as the management staff, catering staff and laundry staff. They picked five people from each category and interview them, then they are told if they are successful or not.
“We all arrived at the ceremony at the Hilton and none of us knew who had won. Nuala McKeever called out our names and the three nurses in my category had to go up on the stage with their sponsors, mine was the Four Seasons Group. That was the part that made me nervous, leaving the table and walking to the stage."
The staff and management had every confidence that Betty, who has a career spanning 50 years, including a stint as a midwife in Ballymoney Health Centre and 25 years in Co.Down, would scoop the award and wished her luck before she left. Betty had warned them not to get their hopes up, but said she was 'delighted' to have won her category.
Christine Thompson, Operations Manager said: "Betty is a fabulous nurse who is caring, compassionate and has time for everyone, the word NO does not enter into Betty's vocabulary, she is an inspiration to any nurse."
Betty said: "I was very surprised when my name was read out, the room was crowded with over 200 people attending the ceremony, and to think that I came first out of so many others in the category has really pleased me.
“I am absolutely delighted at this great honour that I have been given, especially at the end of my career as I am hoping to retire next year."
Retirement isn't likely to slow the enthusiastic nurse down, as she has recently scaled Britain's highest mountain and is planning to follow that up with an ascent of the highest peak in Britain in the Lake District.
Betty, who now lives in the Windyhill area of Coleraine, took home the prize of a glass trophy with her name carved into it and a certificate which she has proudly displayed in the Cornfield Care Centre.
