A cancer nurse who became a pioneer of her profession has been awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List.
Dr Cathy Hutchison, a Consultant Nurse at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire.
She received the recognition after becoming the first Consultant Nurse for cancer in Scotland, and went on to become the country’s first Doctor of Nursing.
Cathy was named on the Honours List, which recognises people who have made achievements in public life and or committed themselves to serving and helping the UK, for her services to cancer nursing.
Last night Cathy told how she was “shocked and overwhelmed” by the award, but stressed that it should recognise the dedication shown by the Beatson team to patients and services across the west of Scotland.
She said: “This news was completely unexpected, however it is a wonderful surprise and I feel truly honoured.
“I am mindful that I play a part in a much bigger team that delivers cancer care to people across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and the west of Scotland. We all strive to do our best every day for our patients and services.
“This MBE is recognition of the hard work and dedication carried out by our whole multidisciplinary team.”
Cathy trained as a Registered Nurse at Glasgow Royal Infirmary between 1984 and 1987 and has specialised in cancer care since 1988 in a variety of settings including the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, Peter McCallum Cancer Institute in Melbourne and at the Beatson in Glasgow.
She previously worked in research roles involved in all aspects of cancer clinical trials, with a focus on safety and side effects of treatments.
She was appointed as NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Cancer Consultant Nurse in 2001, which is a leadership position for cancer nursing at a local, regional and national level.
Professor Angela Wallace, Executive Director of Nursing for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “I am so pleased that Cathy’s incredible dedication to cancer nursing has been recognised in this way. She has been a true pioneer of her profession, becoming Scotland’s first Consultant Nurse for cancer and Doctor of Nursing, and has worked across research, care and treatment for almost four decades.
“I’d like to congratulate and thank Cathy for the amazing support she has shown, and continues to show, to patients with cancer, their families, and her colleagues throughout her impressive career.”
