Prestigious community nursing award for Chief of Nursing and Therapies
BCHC Chief of Nursing and Therapies Lorraine Galligan has received one of the most prestigious honours in community nursing, recognising the impact of strategic nursing leadership on staff support and patient outcomes.
The William Rathbone X Annual Award for Excellence in the Executive Nurse Leadership of Community Nursing Services is organised by the Queen's Institute of Community Nursing (QICN).
Lorraine was recognised for her compassionate, inclusive and strategic leadership, driving measurable improvements in patient care and staff experience. Within BCHC she has embedded the Essential Care Framework, improving safety outcomes including reductions in pressure ulcers, falls and infections, and introduced a clinical excellence programme to strengthen professional practice in increasingly complex community settings.
She has also played a key role in safeguarding across Birmingham, championed culturally competent end-of-life care, and led system-wide innovations such as urgent community response and integrated neighbourhood teams. Her commitment to workforce development has expanded career pathways and strengthened support for nursing staff.
BCHC Chief Executive Richard Kirby said: “Lorraine is an exceptional leader whose commitment to compassionate, high-quality care is evident in every aspect of her work. She empowers teams, drives innovation and ensures patients remain at the heart of everything we do.”
QICN Chief Executive Steph Lawrence said: “The William Rathbone X Award celebrates outstanding leadership in community nursing. Lorraine's achievement reflects not only her personal commitment, but the scale, complexity and importance of community nursing leadership across today's health and care system. My congratulations to her on this well-deserved recognition.”
Lorraine said: “I'm incredibly honoured to receive this award. Having spent my career in community nursing in Birmingham, it means so much to be recognised alongside teams who care so deeply about their patients and communities.
"This award reflects the passion and commitment of our community teams across BCHC, who make a real difference in people's lives every day, often in the most challenging circumstances.
"I feel incredibly proud of what we achieve together every day, and to be part of a service so rooted in its communities.”
The award was presented to Lorraine by Lucy Rathbone, daughter of the late William Rathbone X who was a Queen's Nursing Institute Council Member with a lifelong commitment to nursing in the community, and to the charity that had been founded by William Rathbone VI and Florence Nightingale.