Publish date: 8 March 2023
Happy International Women’s Day!
Thank you to all the amazing women across our Trust for your commitment to perfect care.
Today is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.
We have complied some inspiring stories from our staff and the first District Nurse below. If you would like to share your story, please email communications
Mary Robinson
Mary Robinson was the first District Nurse. William Rathbone (1819-1902), the Liverpool merchant and philanthropist, employed Mary to nurse his wife at home during her final illness. William Rathbone decided to try to extend the service started with Mary, but soon found that there was a lack of trained nurses and that nurse training was disorganised and very variable in quality. In 1860 he wrote to Florence Nightingale, who advised him to start a nurse training school and home for nurses attached to the Royal Infirmary in Liverpool and with typical Victorian organisation and energy this was built by May 1863.
Find out more on Qni Heritage's website.
Justine Nakimuli
Justine Nakimuli, Team Manager at St Helens Living Life Well St Helens Recovery, has been doing community mental health awareness work with people of colour in Merseyside for the last five years. Together with members of the community in Liverpool, she founded and registered MBS (Mindbodyandsoul) Charity for mental health and wellbeing in BAME UK to address stigma of mental illness for people of colour and improve access to services and pathways. Justine won the Queen's Platinum Champion's award in Knowlsey in 2022 and MBS has been nominated for the Liverpool Community Impact Award 2023.
Read Justine's story - https://bit.ly/Justine-MBS
Trish Conlan
Trish C
onlan is a District Nurse and featured in our Summer 2022 MC Magazine. Trish returned to University after having two children to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse despite challenging set backs she faced earlier on. Trish says "I love what I do. If I hadn't made the move I'd have big regrets. I'm glad I was older, both for studying and doing my job, you have so much more life experience. It's not about age, it's what you bring to the role, I'd say just do it!".
Yan Xiao
Yan Xiao, health worker for Liverpool Chinese community, is working with the local Chinese community to show the importance of exercise to their wellbeing. Yan won a Dragon's Den style grant from the Trust to support isolated groups of people. She shares her love of badminton in our Spring 2022 edition of our MC Magazine saying it is something meaningful for people to connect to and offer them a sense of community whilst taking ownership of their health.
Laura Knowles
Laura K
nowles, staff nurse at Broadoak Unit, took part in the Invictus Games in Florida in 2016 and got a silver and bronze in rowing. Laura has a love of music but was also inspired by her parents jobs so was torn between coming a nurse or working in the Army. Laura joined the armed forces but was medically discharged with mental health issues following traumatic life events. Laura was supported by Help for Heroes and took part in the Invictus Games and discovered she wasn't alone in her mental health struggles. She began studying for her nurses degree and has been shortlisted for accolades in the Nursing Times Student awards for helping disabled students access their entitlements. Laura is hoping to compete in the Invictus Games again this year! Read more about Laura's story in out Winter 2022 edition of our MC Magazine.