Representing Nurses at 10 Downing Street

It was with some disbelief that I read an email received on 2nd July which stated “The Prime Minister invites Mrs. Patricia Beverly to a reception to celebrate 70 years of the NHS at 10 Downing Street on Wednesday 4 July, 5.30pm – 7.15pm”.

After several emails and phone calls I was eventually convinced that this was genuine and started to make plans, but with only 2 days’ notice and 2 full days in my work diary, there wasn’t much time to spare!

Before I knew it I was joining a queue outside the gates of Number 10.  There was much excitement at the thought of actually going behind the famous black door.  There were a variety of NHS staff invited, I was standing with a newly qualified nurse from Liverpool and a GP who was about to retire and had this year received the MBE.

Having got through the stringent security checks, I eventually found myself inside Number 10 and was directed through the corridors to the gardens and terrace.

As I sat with some other nurses to enjoy the gardens and chat about our roles it began to rain and we were directed back into the house and up the stairs to a large reception room.  We walked up the famous staircase where photos or paintings and the signatures of all the past Prime Ministers decorated the wall; it felt surreal to be climbing the staircase where many dignitaries and visitors had been before.

With the arrival of the Prime Minister imminent, the chosen six were ushered into The White State Drawing room which was, until the 1940s, used by Prime Ministers and their partners for their private use.  It was here that Edward Heath once kept his grand piano.  It is often used as the backdrop for television interviews and is in regular use as a meeting room for Downing Street staff.  On the wall was a work by J. M. W. Turner, it also contained elegant Adams furniture and Chippendale chairs.

The Prime Minister eventually arrived; she spent some time talking to a small group of people, who, from what I could surmise, were activists and supporters of the NHS.

Our small group waited in anxious anticipation until the Prime Minister was ready to join us.  I was so proud to be introduced to her, she was informed by one of her members of staff that I was to receive a long service award and was also a Queen’s Nurse.

She thanked me for my services to the NHS, I managed to thank her for the invitation and before I knew it, she had moved on to the next person, who was very new to the NHS and had been in the first cohort of apprenticeship nurses.

Following our official introduction we were requested to join the other NHS staff in the large reception room, where after some time both the PM and Secretary of State made speeches about the NHS and thanked staff for their services.  It was then time for a significant number of us to receive our long service awards.  Official photographs were taken and before long the event was coming to a close.  During the course of a couple of hours  I met admin staff and secretaries, consultants, kitchen and portering staff, doctors and staff involved in the development of remote care, a fascinating group, all with stories to share about their working lives in the NHS.  We had shared a unique event and our memories will stay with us for a very long time.

Pat describes her role in the NHS:

The 31st of October 2018 was my 41^st anniversary of starting my training with the NHS! I have been a school nurse for 18 years and a specialist school nurse since 2006.

My current post involves working with vulnerable young people who are receiving their education in an alternate provision, which includes Pupil Referral Units (often due to permanent exclusion from school), Home Tuition due to ill health (both mental and physical) and children who are electively home educated.  I also work with young offenders, providing regular clinics for 1:1 consultations and group health promotion sessions. I address their general health needs and focus on lifestyle choices which may impact on their health i.e. smoking, drug use, sexual health, emotional health and wellbeing, and more commonly now, gang affiliation and risks regarding attacks and CSE (Child Sexual Exploitation).

I am also a mentor for newly qualified school nurses and provide clinical and safeguarding supervision for colleagues.

Pat Beverly
Queen’s Nurse