A nurse who was named in the New Year Honours List has been celebrated at a special event to present her with a British Empire Medal.
Maggie Clark, an Emergency Laparotomy Nurse Specialist with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) at the Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH), was given the award by the Lord-Lieutenant of Ayrshire and Arran, Sheriff Iona Sara McDonald.
She was named in the King’s Honours List in January for her dedication and service to the NHS.
Friends, family and colleagues – both present and past from Maggie’s former role as a critical care nurse in the hospital’s High Dependency Unit – gathered at the event at the RAH last week.
They heard how the mum-of-two, from Beith, Ayrshire, brings together a number of different services to ensure patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery receive the best possible care.
Accepting her BEM, Maggie said: “I’m deeply honoured to receive this British Empire Medal for services to NHS Scotland.
“But of course, this recognition is not mine alone. It’s a reflection of the incredible teams, colleagues, patients and families I have had the privilege to work with throughout my nursing journey.
“I feel incredibly lucky to enjoy the work that challenges and inspires me, and lets me make a difference.
“When people ask me what I do, I talk about people – it’s not just about tasks, it’s so much more.
“To be acknowledged in this way for doing the work that I love is incredibly touching.”
She added: “The NHS represents the very best of us. Here at the RAH, there is compassion, resilience and a shared commitment to our patients and I’ve simply tried to play my part.”
Consultant Surgeon Professor Susan Moug said Maggie was committed to providing “personalised, patient-centred care”.
Prof Moug said: “Maggie is one of only a few Emergency Laparotomy Nurse Specialists across the UK and one of the first in Scotland.
“She brings together multidisciplinary teams including occupational therapists, surgeons, nutritionists, dieticians, stoma nurses, physiotherapy and speech and language therapists.
“We collected comments from patients, their families and colleagues about Maggie, and one really stood out, which was from the relative of a patient who said, ‘Without Maggie, I don’t think my husband would have got home’.”
During the event, Maggie’s colleagues including Lead Nurse for General Surgery, Sharlene Baillie, presented her with flowers and gifts to show their appreciation of her.
They also arranged for a special video message from Scottish singer Callum Beattie, who congratulated her on her BEM.
NHSGGC Vice Chair David Gould said he was “immensely proud” of the recognition given to Maggie, and by extension the entire multidisciplinary team she works with at the RAH.
He said: “I am absolutely delighted that Maggie’s hard work, dedication and commitment has been recognised in such a grand manner.
“As Maggie has said herself, she is part of a surgical and wider multi disciplinary team and her receiving this award is a much deserved reflection on the teams’ efforts in delivering excellence in care to patients and their families.
“It is great to see Maggie being recognised and celebrated in such a public manner.
“It makes me immensely proud that she has chosen to work for NHSGGC and that her care and compassion is being rewarded.”
Maggie was previously a finalist in the Nurse of the Year category at the Scottish Health Awards in 2023.
The Honours system recognises people who have made achievements in public life and or committed themselves to serving and helping the UK.
