We caught up with the Nurse/Nursing Team of the Year Award shortlist ahead of this year’s General Practice Awards ceremony to be held on 6 December at the Novotel London West.
Ann-Marie Blaney, nurse lead at The De Parys Group in Bedford, has shown unwavering commitment to improving healthcare for vulnerable communities, particularly the homeless.
Ann-Marie’s dedication and ability to think outside the box has led to transformative outcomes, including early cancer detection and expanded access to healthcare through mobile clinics. Her collaborative leadership style not only motivates colleagues but also fosters a culture of continuous learning, ensuring her team stays at the forefront of healthcare advancements.
Colleagues consistently praise her as someone who ‘always goes above and beyond’, with GP partners describing her as ‘proactive and prepared to help both patients and staff alike’.
Ann-Marie has developed a comprehensive competency framework for minor illness nurses, healthcare assistants (HCAs), and trainee HCAs. Her collaborative leadership style inspires and motivates colleagues through mentorship, guidance, and positive reinforcement.
What’s more, Anne-Marie has established a culture of respect and professionalism, resulting in positive relationships and effective teamwork among staff. Part of her leadership ethos is to facilitate team meetings or discussions to address issues, share best practice, and promote a shared vision and mission within the practice nursing team.
Anne-Marie’s proactive approach extends to resource management, encompassing staffing, budgeting and equipment, to ensure the practice nursing team operates efficiently and meets patient care needs. She implements cost-effective measures and process improvements to maximise the impact of available resources and achieve optimal outcomes for patients and the team.
Anne-Marie’s dedication to health improvement is reflected in her work within the No Fixed Abode/Homeless pathway, where she led an early cancer diagnosis campaign, identifying two cases early enough for timely intervention. Her collaboration with the Integrated Care Board has also addressed the need for Hepatitis immunisation among homeless patients.
Her efforts have expanded access to essential healthcare services, adding 66 new registrations to the homeless patient register over the course of a year. In addition to vaccinations, she led physical health checks and screenings, with 134 BMI assessments, 162 blood pressure checks, 12 physical health checks and targeted cancer screening for bowel, breast, and cervical cancers.
One clinical director highlighted her impact by saying: ‘She works tirelessly to establish a connection with local shelters, social services, and community organisations to create a comprehensive network of support for homeless individuals seeking healthcare.’
A clinical director described Anne-Marie as ‘a gem of a person’ and ‘a pleasure to work with’, adding: ‘She always has a smile on her face and is excellent in her clinical management too. She is definitely deserving of the appreciation and the award.’
