PRACTICE nurses from all over Greater Manchester came together to celebrate International Nurses Day on Thursday, 12 May, with awards for General Practice (GP) nurses from Bolton for their innovation, dedication and resilience.

Bolton GP Federation Chief Nurse, Kath Arrowsmith, was awarded the General Practice Nurse Innovator award at the Greater Manchester Primary Care event at the Etihad Stadium, for her pioneering work to break down barriers that vulnerable women experience, by delivering vital cancer screening cervical smear tests outside of the traditional clinical environment, and deep in the heart of the Rumworth community.

Working in partnership with Healthwatch Bolton and Bolton Council of Mosques, Kath, who is also the Rumworth Primary Care Network Lead Nurse, was humbled by her award. She said: “It is absolutely wonderful to have received this award. I feel so proud to have been a part of putting this project together and of my team at Bolton GP Federation for believing in doing things differently and for giving me the opportunity to make this happen.

“Tackling health inequalities and improving outcomes for the town through our innovative projects is a huge priority for us and I am so proud that this work has been recognised across Greater Manchester.

“I am, of course, totally indebted to the wonderful team I work with and the help and support they provide in making things happen. The award really is another achievement for team Bolton GP Federation – and what a team! I am so lucky to work with such amazing people.”

Another Bolton winner, Practice Nurse Judith Oliver from Kearsley Medical Centre, won the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Dr George Ogden, GP partner at Kearsley Medical Centre and Chair of Bolton GP Federation, said: “I am lucky to get to work with two nurses who won awards, demonstrating the spirit of primary care nursing.

“Kath is a great nurse and innovator, and Judith is resilient and over a long period has shown ability to keep patient care at the forefront of everything she does.”

Other GP nurse winners from Bolton, included Ayisha Badat from Cornerstone Surgery, who won the Population Health Award, and Karen Robinson from Bolton Community Practice who was presented with the Wellbeing Champion award.

For further information and photos from the event contact: dawn.lythgoe@boltongpfed.co.uk