Lifetime Achievement Award for Sheffield nurse’s dedication to Immunodeficiency services
Fran Ashworth, Sister at the Immunology and Allergy Unit at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has received a Lifetime Achievement Award for her dedication to the field of immunodeficiency.
Fran, who has worked as a nurse in immunology for 21 years, was awarded the prestigious accolade from the International Nursing Group for Immunodeficiencies (INGID).
The Lifetime Achievement Award is bestowed upon present or past long-term members of the society for their substantial contributions to the field of primary immunodeficiencies (PID) services.
Fran Said: “I am very humbled and touched by this award, especially as my peers from all over the world have voted for me to receive this accolade. I must thank Sheffield Teaching Hospitals and my colleagues past and present for their support. Together we have developed a fantastic service that is now recognised, locally, nationally and internationally and valued by so many of our patients.”
Fran works at the Clinical Immunology and Allergy service which is located in a purpose built unit on the Northern General Hospital site in Sheffield, and offers regional immunology and allergy services for adults.
Fran began her nursing career in Belfast before moving to Sheffield Teaching Hospitals in 1974, where she initially cared for patients being investigated for lung disease. In 1997 Fran was asked to help a new consultant, now Professor Bill Egner, to set up a Clinical Immunology service within the Trust, and at the same time developed an Allergy service.
Fran’s role within the Immunology & Allergy Unit was many and varied as the sole nurse for several years until the unit eventually grew to a team of 25.
Her many successes include the development of the Home Therapy Programme in Sheffield which enables patients on regular treatment for primary antibody deficiency and hereditary angioedema (HAE) to undergo training to self-infuse at a home and take control of their condition. She also set up the first nurse-led allergy clinic in Yorkshire.
Fran was presented with her award at the European Society for Immunodeficiency 18th Biennial Meeting in Lisbon, Portugal.
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