Jane Pettifer, Assistant Director of Quality at NHS Sutton CCG, has been shortlisted for the national NHS Parliamentary Awards for her outstanding contribution the NHS in Sutton following her success in the regional awards.

The NHS Parliamentary awards are organised by NHS England and nominations are made by local Members of parliament. Nominees are shortlisted to become ‘regional champions’ locally and invited to attend an event in Parliament on 10 July when national winners will be announced.

Jane was nominated by Paul Scully, the MP for Sutton, for the lifetime achievement award in the NHS. Jane began her NHS career in 1975, as an auxiliary nurse. Despite being told earlier in her career that she was not “clever enough” to become a Registered General Nurse, she went to night school to get her “O” levels and then completed her RGN training at the Royal Surrey Hospital in Guildford in 1991.

Jane began working in continuing health in 1998 as manager of Carshalton War Memorial Hospital, implementing Funded Nursing Payments to nursing homes and continuing care assessments. She was also responsible for a clinical team providing care in the community. This developed into the role Jane has today at Sutton CCG.

Now, Jane has a full time role in the delivery of Continuing Health Care , yet due to her passion and drive to get it right for patients she involves herself voluntarily in many programmes of work that benefit from her wealth of experience and nursing expertise.

Jane said: “Being told at such a young age I wasn’t clever enough really spurred me on to gain my qualifications, culminating in my BSc in Health Education, and achieve as much as I could in my career.

I am really proud to work in the NHS and honoured to have been recognised by these awards by being named as Regional Winner, Lifetime Achievement Award.

This isn’t something I ever thought could happen to me when I started out as a 16 year old auxiliary nurse at St Helier Hospital.”

Paul Scully, MP for Sutton, said: “I am delighted to see that Jane’s incredible work being recognised at the NHS Parliamentary Awards. Jane’s lifetimes work in improving the lives of patients in Sutton is a testament to her passion for the NHS and I look forward to seeing her continue to contribute in the many years to come”.

Dr Jeffrey Croucher, Clinical Chair for Sutton CCG, said: “Jane’s tireless efforts to improve the lives of others in Sutton is an example for all of us working in the NHS. I am so pleased that Jane has been recognised for her outstanding contribution and I am sure she will continue to inspire others”