Nurse 'humbled' to be made MBE for 50 years of care

Sue Watson looks at the camera. She has blonde, shoulder-length hair and is wearing glasses. She is wearing a black cardigan over a grey dress. She is sitting on a sofa. A vase with sunflowers is on a table behind her. Steve Hubbard/BBC

Sue Watson was appointed MBE in the King's New Year Honours

Mariam Issimdar and Susie Fowler-Watt

A care home manager who has been honoured for working for 50 years in nursing and care said she was "humbled".

Sue Watson, who runs Pytchley Court nursing home in Brixworth, near Northampton, was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the New Year Honours for her long service to adult social care.

"I'm absolutely humbled by it, I have to say, and I'm excited for the investiture, but I'm also very sad that my parents are no longer here to share it with me because they would have been absolutely over the moon," said Watson.

She comes from a long line of nurses and began her career aged 17.

Sue Watson sits with two care home residents, who are in armchairs either side of her. She is in an armchair in the middle. She is looking at one resident as she listens to him speak. With her arms stretched out, she is holding both residents' hands. She has blonde hair and glasses and is wearing a black top, a grey dress, black tights and black boots.Steve Hubbard/BBC

Watson said her philosophy of kindness in care had served her and her patients

She said being named on the honours list had a real significance for her and her wider family, who were royalists.

"Myself, my brother and sister, all our second names are after the Royal Family.

"That's why my middle name is Elizabeth. I was born the same day as the late Queen," said Watson.

The nurse said her philosophy centred around kindness in care.

"You have to be kind and I learnt that from four generations of nurses in my family," she said.

"I'm very focused on person-centred care... it takes time to get to know each individual, but it's very important."

Sue Watson with three care workers. All are standing in a room with a table behind them and appear to be listening to watson speak. Steve Hubbard/BBC

Watson said she was supported in her daily work by "an excellent team"

Pytchley Court has been rated as outstanding overall by health watchdog the Care Quality Commission.

On being honoured, Watson added: "I never in a million years thought that this would ever happen to me.

"I do my job and I hope I do it well and I hope that I'm teaching other generations to have the same values and I achieve this by having student nurses come on placements into the home."

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