A senior nurse who has helped to improve adult social care across North Yorkshire has spoken of her pride after being awarded an honorary degree.
Sarah Fiori is our principal nurse and has dedicated her nursing career to providing and shaping future health care for people across the county.
Sarah has held nursing posts in both acute and community NHS settings over the past three decades and was previously a research sister for academic and commercial trials.
Among the innovations she has helped implement include a tool helping care staff to identify early signs of physical deterioration, and a hydration project that has reduced incidents of avoidable harm such as falls and urinary infections.
In recognition of her service to the communities of York and North Yorkshire, this month (Wednesday, 13 November), she was honoured at York St John University after being presented with a Doctor of Science (honoris causa) honorary degree.
Sarah said: “Working in the health and care sector is like no other career. It’s always been more than a job – it becomes part of who you are and integral to your identity.
“Being a nurse makes me who I am, and I never take for granted how this role has seen me journey with people and be present at some of the most significant times in their lives – whether it’s the birth of a child, a life-changing event, or a loved one passing away.
“It is a privilege to be able to work with staff and those receiving care across a diverse range of settings and to know I play a part in supporting positive experiences for some of the most vulnerable individuals within our communities.
“Nobody ever sets out to pursue a career in nursing or social care for individual accolades, and it truly is a team game. I’m fortunate to have been able to call so many inspirational people my colleagues down the years and am humbled to receive this honorary degree.”
As well as her role with us which sees her oversee and support the quality of delivery from adult social care providers across the county, Sarah is also head of quality improvement at the Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, York Place Health and Care Partnership.
The role sees her utilise her nursing skills and experience to better understand and support the needs of people in receipt of care and their carers, working collaboratively with the NHS and other local authorities to co-design interventions and improvements that benefit the communities she serves.
Executive member for health and adult services, Cllr Michael Harrison, said: “Sarah is an inspirational nurse who is constantly looking for ways to improve the quality of care given to people across North Yorkshire and beyond.
“I would like to congratulate her on this honorary degree and she should be incredibly proud of her achievements.”
Sarah’s contribution saw her become a Queen’s Nurse in 2021, a title bestowed on those who have demonstrated a high level of commitment to patient care and nursing practice.
Two years later, she was recognised nationally, being awarded the Chief Nurse Adult Social Care Gold Award which celebrates the outstanding contributions of social care workers and nurses.
Assistant director for adult social care Rachel Bowes said: “I am delighted Sarah has been recognised for her commitment to continuous improvement in the care sector across health and social care.
“Our integrated quality team benefits from having professionals from across both health and social care supporting providers to deliver the best possible care and support across North Yorkshire, and Sarah is a cornerstone of that team.”