Yvonne is a nurse with 38 years’ experience who began her career at Forth Valley Hospital, before transferring to Glasgow Royal Infirmary in 2000, to be one of the UK’s first Heart Failure Nurse Specialists, where she worked alongside the late Lynda Blue. As a Senior Lecturer in Heart Failure and Palliative Care in Glasgow for more than twenty years, she has inspired generations of heart failure professionals from across the UK with the delivery of the master’s level post graduate CHF: Optimising Health and Wellbeing and the Supportive Palliative Care modules.

In addition to her role as an educator, Yvonne also works as a Heart Failure Palliative Care Nurse Consultant. For her work in this capacity, she became a finalist in the Royal College of Nursing 2022 Patients Choice Award. She was nominated by the relative of one of her patients who praised Yvonne for her outstanding care of his mum and the whole family which had enabled her to be cared for at home and minimised the need for repeated hospital admissions.

Yvonne is known nationally for her exemplary leadership in cardiac palliative care, a field in which she has tirelessly advocated for the needs of patients and their families, believing that patients with cardiac conditions should receive equity of access to supportive palliative care provision across the UK. As a recognised national expert in this field, advising on policy as well as education. She was the lead author in partnership with Dr Jenny Welstand and Carys Barton on the ‘Cardiac Supportive Palliative Care Professional Guidance Resource’ and the ‘What Matters to You’ meaningful conversation plan, both of which can be accessed within the members resources on the BSH website.

In her acceptance speech, Yvonne inspired us all with this quote from Steve Jobs: “Your work fills a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe to be great work. The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.” 

I qualified as a nurse in 1996 and have always worked in the field of cardiology, 13 years in an acute setting and the remainder in the Community in the Heart Failure Service in Lincolnshire. I am trained to Masters level and I am an independent prescriber. My passion and motivation lies with providing patients an integrated, seamless service that delivers quality specialist care.

What achievement in your career are you most proud of? 

I am most proud of taking the leap into heart failure nursing many years ago. I waited 4 years for a post to become available and felt like it might be beyond reach. It was the single most important thing I have done because it has led to many more experiences that I am proud of.

How do you feel about being nominated for the Lynda Blue Award?

I am completely humbled by the nomination and was very shocked – I had no idea until I saw my name on the screen. It doesn’t come naturally to me to celebrate achievements so it seems my team decided to do it instead! I am incredibly fortunate to work with a service that encompasses talented, committed and innovative clinicians who care deeply about the patients they look after and the service they provide. The award nomination may have my name on it but it is the whole team that deserves the accolade