Marie Curie, the UK’s leading end of life charity, has unveiled its latest graduates from its National Garden Scheme Nightingale Challenge. The 17 Marie Curie Registered Nurses, Healthcare Assistants and Allied Health Professionals from around the UK have all completed a vigorous year long training programme combining practical and theoretical learnings to help develop them as future leaders in palliative and end of life care.

One of the 17 graduates, Beth McGregor, a Marie Curie Registered Nurse in Durham said: “The programme has improved my overall confidence, the content has been very interesting and relevant to leadership, communication skills, people management and understanding personalities. I have really enjoyed meeting colleagues in our organisation who are also new to leadership and sharing our experiences.”

George Plumptre, Chief Executive of the National Garden Scheme said: “Empowering nurses and other professionals and equipping them with the leadership skills to further their careers is vital, particularly at such a challenging time in healthcare. Now in our 28^th year of partnership with Marie Curie, the National Garden Scheme is proud to continue to fund this essential programme and provide targeted support for Marie Curie professionals.”

George Plumptre addressed attendees at the graduation ceremony, held at the end of February at Marie Curie’s London office, where Dame Barbara Monroe DBE also shared highlights of her leadership career.  

Lily Whitlam, Marie Curie Senior Corporate Partnerships Manager said: “It was fantastic to bring together the graduates to share their projects and celebrate everything they’ve experienced and achieved, reflecting on what has been a busy but fulfilling year for them. We’re incredibly grateful to the National Garden Scheme for funding the Challenge, recognising the huge importance of developing clinical and clinical support leaders of the future.”

The National Garden Scheme Nightingale Challenge

Inspired by The Nursing Now Challenge (formerly the Nightingale Challenge) the programme is delivered by Marie Curie to support the next generation of healthcare leaders in palliative and end of life care.

The full list of graduates (listed in alphabetical order by surname):

1. Emily Batt, Sister/Charge Nurse at the Marie Curie Hospice, Bradford
2. Charlotte Bullivant, Senior Nurse in the South-West Hospice Care at Home Service
3. Sophie Graham, Clinical Nurse Manager at the Marie Curie Hospice, Liverpool
4. Claire Hancock, Inpatient Unit Ward Manager at the Marie Curie Hospice, Bradford
5. Maria Haughey, Deputy Head of Operations at the Marie Curie Hospice, West Midlands
6. Rebecca Hilton, Sister/Charge Nurse at the Marie Curie Hospice, Newcastle
7. Angela Jackson, Outpatient Manager at the Marie Curie Hospice, Newcastle
8. Rico Kosedy Occupational Therapist at the Marie Curie Hospice, Edinburgh
9. Danielle Lloyd Registered Nurse at the Marie Curie Hospice, Liverpool
10. Carol McEachran Practice Education Facilitator, based in Argyll and Bute (Scotland)
11. Rachael McGowan, Quality Improvement Practitioner based in London
12. Beth McGregor, Registered Nurse for the Marie Curie Hospice Care at Home Service in Durham
13. Kate Monaghan, Registered Nurse for the Marie Curie Hospice Care at Home Service in Cornwall
14. Piotr Paszkowski, Senior Nurse for the Marie Curie Wales Hospice Care at Home Service
15. Halima Rimdap, Senior Nurse for the Marie Curie Urgent Hospice Care at Home Service in South East London
16. Catherine Walker Scriven, Sister/Charge Nurse at the Marie Curie Hospice, Newcastle
17. Lucy Williams, Clinical Nurse Specialist at the Marie Curie Hospice, Liverpool

For more about our partnership with Marie Curie CLICK HERE

Published 26 March, 2024