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Health worker's national accolade
From the Lancashire Telegraph, first published Thursday 27th Mar 2008.
A HEALTH worker from East Lancashire has scooped a top international award in recognition of his work at home and abroad.
Andrew Clarke, 38, a community health visitor from Ramsbottom, was handed the prestigious Robert Tiffany International Nursing Award.
The presentation was at the Nursing Standard journal's Nurse of the Year ceremony at London's Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, tonight.
Andrew, who works out of Yarnspinners Health Centre in the Nelson and Brierfield area, was praised for juggling his work at home with overseas commitments.
As well as working as a community health visitor, he is a lead health advisor for the Child Welfare Scheme charity and spends a large part of the year helping children in the poverty-blighted region of western Nepal.
Andrew accepted the award with a humble attitude, saying he was "delighted" to win but it was for all the people who work alongside him. He said: "It's a good reflection of the work of so many good people.
"I work with two really good teams - in East Lancashire and western Nepal. The award highlights the good work that's being done in both countries."
In Nepal, he leads a team that treats almost 1000 people a week people and has cared for 50,000 people this year, who would otherwise have no access to health services.
The team runs child health programmes, improve access to health services for the poor and work on reducing the high death rates in pregnant women.
He said the frequent travelling is tiring but worthwhile. He said: "It's a hectic life and this has taken me by surprise.
"I am in Nepal about five times a year for periods of around three weeks, and work closely with my team by telephone and email in between.
"I think my clients in both countries benefit from the wider experience I'm lucky to gain. Many of the skills I practice and learn are transferable, even though the circumstances are very different."
Val Carman, Director of Nursing and Service Provision for East Lancashire Primary Care Trust, said: "We're immensely proud of him. Being able to work in two different places is of great benefit to everybody.
"We know that he has made a significant contribution to the health of children and families in Nepal, as he does in East Lancashire."
Andrew will now fly to the Himalayan country of Nepal where he will begin his next assignment His wife, Cate, a Nursing Sister on the Intensive Care Unit at Salford Royal Hospital, and their two children - Patrick, four and George, two, will join him later.
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