A DUNFERMLINE midwife has received the prestigious title of Queen’s Nurse. 

Claire Pearse, a Midwife at NHS Tayside, was one of just 24 community nurses and midwives to be presented with the Queen's Nurse Award after completing the nine-month programme run by the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland (QNIS).

She completed the programme earlier this year and was awarded the title at a ceremony in the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Edinburgh on Friday, November 24.

Clare Cable, QNIS chief executive and nurse director, said: “These 24 exceptional individuals can be deservedly proud of being awarded this prestigious title."

Queen’s Nursing in Scotland dates back to the late 19th century when nurses completed specific training which allowed them to work as district nurses.

They provided healthcare and health promotion to people in their own homes and became well-respected figures within their community.

Following the introduction of a national certificate for district nursing, QNIS ceased training, awarding the original QN District Nursing title for the final time in 1969.

The Queen’s Nurse title was reintroduced to Scotland in 2017, with 20 community nurses chosen to take part in a transformational development programme which would see them become the first modern Queen’s Nurses.

There are now over 150 contemporary Queen’s Nurses working across Scotland.