Vicky Beckett is a recipient of the Queen’s Nurse title for her efforts to support people with learning disabilities
Grimsby nurse Vicky Beckett (left) with Karen Bonner MBE, chief nurse, NHS England London.(Image: The Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing)
A Grimsby nurse has told of her pride in being awarded a top industry title reserved for the country’s best practitioners. Vicky Beckett, who works as practice nurse at Weelsby View Health Centre on Ladysmith Road, has been presented with the Queen’s Nurse Award.
The title is bestowed by the Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing (QICN), and is given to those who have demonstrated a high level of commitment to patient care and nursing practice. As part of the 2025 cohort, Vicky was one of 500 community nurses who gathered for the recent award ceremony in London.
The 52 year-old has been nursing for more than 30 years, having started at the age of 17 in an A&E department, before moving into practice nursing when she started a family. Last year she returned to university to become a prescribing nurse, capable of prescribing medicines for patients.
The mum of three said receiving news she had been awarded the title felt “fabulous”. She said: “I only know of one other person in North East Lincolnshire who has a Queen’s Nurse title – there aren’t a lot of people around here with it.”
A copy of the certificate now hangs on the wall in Weelsby View Health Centre, showing off the achievement to patients and colleagues. Vicky applied to the programme and was required to gather evidence from patients, colleagues and submit a 5,000-word essay detailing how she has made a difference to nursing and made an impact on people’s lives. Her submission focussed on her work in learning disability reviews.
(Image: Victoria Beckett)
She explained: “As a practice nurse, you do a little bit of everything – it’s quite generic. And it was obvious to me that people with learning disabilities were being very overlook, they were being disadvantaged health wise.
“So, I did some work on things like breast screening, testicular screening and smear test for those with learning disabilities because they are very overlooked.”
Vicky’s work has included developing easy-read and diagrammatic materials for those patients in an effort to help them understand their health. Her broader work as a practice nurse – which she describes a “bit of everything” – includes helping people manage chronic diseases and conditions such as asthma, diabetes and high blood pressure, and administering travel vaccinations, carrying out smear tests and offering contraception.
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A Queen’s Nurse badge now adorns Vicky’s uniform, which she wears with pride. She said: “It gives you a bit of a feel good factor knowing that you’ve made a difference to people’s lives. I can’t ever remember wanting to do anything else and even though nursing is difficult now, it’s not what it used to be, I still wouldn’t do anything else.”
Steph Lawrence, chief executive of the QICN, said: “To every Queen’s Nurse, Fellow, and Awardee: you are the heart of healthcare. Your dedication to the people you serve, to innovation, and leadership transforms lives in the community every single day. Let this celebration fuel your ambition to lead the future of nursing and continue to deliver outstanding care.”