Allison Ramsay, NHS Forth Valley’s former lead nurse for Learning Disability Services, was ‘stunned’ when she received a letter advising she had been nominated for an OBE for services to learning disability. Allison, who retired earlier this year, said it was nerve wracking waiting for The Queen’s Birthday Honours list to be published but she has been overwhelmed by all the messages of support and congratulations.
Allison joined NHS Forth Valley in 1979 as a nursing assistant, intending to work only for the summer months. However she enjoyed working with people with learning disabilities and was encouraged by other qualified nurses to undertake nursing as a career. She qualified in May 1983 and over the next 10 years held various posts at the former Royal Scottish National Hospital in Larbert and in community learning disability services before taking on a combined clinical and management role in 1994
Appointed NHS Forth Valley’s Lead Nurse for Learning Disabilities in 2001, Allison focused on developing enhanced learning disability services in the community and creating Loch View, a new assessment and treatment facility close to Forth Valley Royal Hospital.
Speaking about her OBE she said: “I view the award as a shared achievement with the Learning Disability nursing staff across NHS Forth Valley. I have the greatest respect for local staff and the high standard of care they deliver in such a caring and compassionate way. I hope this award may help to raise the profile of Learning Disability nursing and encourage young people to think about this as a future career. I would also encourage nurses working in other areas to consider retraining in Learning Disabilities as it is a very rewarding, fulfilling and varied area to work in.
“I have had a great career in NHS Forth Valley and I am so appreciative of the support I have had from friends and colleagues over the last four decades.”
A post highlighting Allison’s award generated a great response on Facebook. Comments included:
‘one in a million, so very well deserved’
‘loved working with you’
‘fabulous and truly deserved for this dedicated professional lady’
‘one of the biggest and most inspirational influences of my career’
