Professor’s pride at winning nursing award

A professor from Aylsham has won an award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to learning disability nursing.

Dr Chris Nightingale, an associate Professor of Nursing at the University of Suffolk, said she was “still on a mission to make a difference” after winning the annual award at the NHS England – East of England Learning Disability Celebration Event.

Dr Nightingale’s career, which has spanned more than 40 years, started with her training as a registered nurse for people with learning disabilities and she has been an advocate for fairness, equality, equity and social justice, especially in health and education.

Reflecting on her award, Dr Nightingale said: “I am very proud and honoured to have my work of many years recognised in this way, but there is still much to do.

“I have been very lucky in my career to have had jobs where I could make individual small changes to a person’s life, right up to influencing Government policy on inclusive practices in education.

“There are amazing people working out in the services and in policy areas to improve lives.

“Sadly, children and adults with a learning disability and autistic people still face stigma, discrimination and inequalities in the health, social care and education systems every day. I am, absolutely, still on a mission to make a difference in what I do, what I teach and what I research.” Other highlights from Dr Nightingale’s long career have included working as a Community Learning Disability Nurse across Norfolk, including in Aylsham, supporting children, adults, families and carers. With the National Institute of Adult and Continuing Education (NIACE), now the Learning and Work Institute, she led on research and development work in further and higher education to improve learning experiences and promote inclusion for disabled people.

Nominating Dr Nightingale for her award, Sir Alan Tuckett, retired CEO of the National Institute of Adult and Continuing Education (NIACE), said she was “an outstanding candidate for recognition” whose work had a “national impact”.

HONOURED: Dr Chris Nightingale with her award.