Scottish clinical nurse specialist, Keith Anderson, has been announced as a finalist in the 2018 RCNi Nurse Awards, the UK’s most prestigious nursing accolade.
Following the award’s highest ever number of nominations in its 31-year history, a panel of expert judges has whittled down over 700 entries to just five inspirational finalists for each award category, and Keith Anderson is a finalist in the Leadership Award category.
Dr Charles Shepherd comments:
“Keith has been providing a much needed referral service for people with ME/CFS in Fife that combines information, support and guidance for many years.
“So, a warm congratulations to him for being nominated for this prestigious nursing award.”
The RCNi Nurse Awards identify and celebrate nurses who, every day, go above and beyond to save lives, provide outstanding care for patients and transform nursing practice for the better.
Clinical nurse specialist Keith Anderson has developed a specialist nurse service to assess, manage and support in people with ME-CFS (myalgic encephalopathy/chronic fatigue syndrome), a controversial clinical area.
Patients felt they were not being taken seriously by clinicians.
Through educational meetings, webinars and clinician-to-clinician advice, Keith mentors and trains GPs and consultants to support these patients.
He assesses patients directly referred to him, developing comprehensive bespoke management plans and ongoing support.
Keith has undertaken two patient evaluation surveys, which have reported positively. Health outcomes have also improved for this group of patients as their condition has been taken seriously and addressed on an individual basis.
Rachel Armitage, Managing Director at RCNi, said:
“The RCNi panel of professional judges voted Keith Anderson as a finalist because of his incredible story and because of the impact he has had within the patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. With the nursing shortage high on the national agenda, it’s important that we give nurses like Keith the recognition they deserve, and we look forward to celebrating his work at the awards in July.”
Kate Garraway, RCNi Nurse Awards Ambassador 2018, said:
“The 2018 RCNi Nurse Award Finalists are all incredible. So often nurses don’t get the recognition they deserve and I can’t wait to celebrate their hard work and dedication at the ceremony in July – if it was up to me I’d crown them all as winners.”
Keith will now go through to the interview stage of the judging process, ahead of the awards ceremony in July.