Lisburn woman lifts prestigious national award

The annual Macmillan Professional Lifetime Achievement award recognises the exceptional level of commitment and dedication shown by Liz to people affected by cancer in Northern Ireland for more than 15 years.

Liz was the first nurse from Northern Ireland to undertake specialist training in oncology and helped introduce similar training for nursing staff here.

She was instrumental in setting up Northern Ireland’s Cancer Centre and other specialist units. She has held several Macmillan posts during the course of her distinguished career, including Lead Cancer Nurse at the NI Cancer Network (NICaN).

She has also been a driving force behind Macmillan’s flagship health service reforms in Northern Ireland, which are improving cancer patient aftercare.

Receiving her award at a special ceremony in Birmingham, Liz said: “I am thrilled to be receiving a Lifetime Achievement award from Macmillan. I consider it a real honour.

“I have had the privilege of working as a Macmillan health professional on three different occasions during my nursing career and I am now drawing on that experience in my present role as a Macmillan Special Adviser for System Redesign.

“To be recognised and honoured in this way is most rewarding but also very humbling, as there are so many wonderful people striving to improve things for people affected by cancer, but it is lovely to know that I too have contributed in some little way towards this.”