THE first nurse consultant to be employed by the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Trust has taken up her post.

Sandra Flynn has become nurse consultant in elective orthopaedic surgery. Prior to her appointment in this role she was Clinical Nurse Specialist in Orthopaedics.

Sandra was awarded an MSc in Professional Practice at the University of Chester in 2005 and is currently entering into her third year of study for a MPhil/ PhD entitled Patients’ perceptions of care and caring in a hospital setting.

Her new role is expected to help enhance patient care and treatment within the speciality of orthopaedics.

Sandra, who is based at the Countess of Chester Hospital in Chester, said she was relishing the challenge of her new post.

She said: “I feel extremely honoured to be appointed to this prestigious post not only for myself but also for the hospital.

“As well as being a first for the PCT, this is a personal achievement for me and I am really looking forward to developing the nurse consultant role.

She added: “I would like to acknowledge my nursing and consultant colleagues who have supported me over the years.

“They have given me the opportunity to develop my expertise within the field of orthopaedics and I am looking forward to developing my relationship with the upper limb team in the coming months.”

Nurse consultants are seen as a key part of the Government’s modernisation policy.

They are senior positions, which have to be approved at regional level by the Department of Health.

Jeanette Kendrick, Head of Nursing and Deputy Divisional Manager of the Surgical Division added: “We are very pleased that Sandra has been appointed in this role.”