A DONEGAL woman has been awarded an MBE for her services to cardiology nursing.
Sr Marian Doogan, who is originally from Ballyshannon, has recently retired from service having been the first cardiac nurse to administer life-saving clot drugs in the UK while working on a nurse led mobile cardiac unit where there were no doctors present.
Living in Enniskillen, she has worked as a nurse in the Cardiology Department at the Erne Hospital, now the South West Acute Hospital, for over 40 years.
Marian, who trained and qualified at the Dick Whittington Hospital in London said: “I am extremely honoured to have received this award, however I always felt that I was very much part of an inclusive and supportive team.
“From the very start, for example I was very fortunate to have the most eminent, far-seeing, progressive consultant in Dr Varma.
“Along with Professor Varma and Dr McAleer and three nursing colleagues, we were a strong team leading cardiology in the early 1980’s.”
Director of Nursing and Primary Care and Older People’s Services, Dr Bob Brown said: “We are extremely proud of the contribution that Marian has made throughout her long career with the Western Trust.
“She has always been an inspirational figure, leading by example through her ground-breaking work. This includes her role in relation to the development of the mobile coronary care unit and as the first cardiac nurse in the UK to administer the clot busting drug (Thrombolysis) at night time on an emergency mobile unit where no doctors were present.
“We are extremely proud of the work that she has done and as individuals and collectively on behalf of the Trust, I would like to pass on our sincere congratulations to Marian on this well deserved accolade.”
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