Nurses honoured at awards

Two nurses who saved the life of an off-duty police officer have been awarded Police Scotland Bravery and Meritorious awards. 

Registered Nurse Angela Morris and Health Care Assistant Beverley Masson, both from Aberdeenshire, were driving along the A952 near Mintlaw in October 2015 at around 1am following a visit to care for a terminally ill patient at their home. Stopping to investigate an abandoned car, they heard shouts from a nearby field where PC Ewan Simpson had been thrown from his motorbike caused by a hit and run. Calling 999 and attempting to keep him calm and comfortable, they remained with the PC until the emergency services arrived. Angela even visited another family at home that night and finished her 12 hour shift at 7am.  

It was Beverley’s first shift with Marie Curie and she recalls: We could see he was in a really bad way, but of course we weren’t going to let him know that. It was a twist of fate that we found him and had the professional training to do as much as we could to help him. Anyone would have done the same. The emergency services really saved his life. I did get home a couple of hours later and played it over in my head and think ‘what if?’ He had someone looking out for him that night.

Describing herself as ‘chuffed’ at the award win Beverley said: It’s really lovely but I have mixed emotions about it. That was a really terrible, life-changing experience for the PC and his family. It is a credit to all the emergency services that he survived. I’m pleased to be accepting the award but I’ll be doing so on behalf of all the front line nurses and emergency services.

Angela who has worked with Marie Curie for five years added: It brings it home to you how fragile lives are and how quickly your world can be turned upside down. I am honoured to be receiving the award but think that PC Simpson is the brave one.

Beverley agrees and added: To us, it’s our job to care for people but it is part of our personality too, and that just kicked in when it was needed.

The injuries PC Simpson sustained meant part of his leg had to be amputated. The driver of the car was later jailed.

Eamon O’Kane, Marie Curie Divisional Manager for Scotland and Northern Ireland said: I’m delighted that Angela and Beverley have received this award. It exemplifies the extraordinary care they and indeed their colleagues provide every time they visit a family at home.

Our nurses and healthcare assistants regularly work unseen by the wider community, often through the night, and the care and support they dedicate is vital to so many families living with a terminal illness. I hope too that this story serves as a reminder to anyone who thinks they or a terminally ill family member could benefit from Marie Curie to get in touch with their GP or District Nurse.

Chief Constable Phil Gormley QPM presented the two nurses with their awards at a ceremony sponsored by Police Mutual at Police Scotland College, Tulliallan on 9 November 2016.

The Chief Constable said: It is genuinely humbling to hear of the extraordinary lengths people have gone to, to help others. I was privileged to present these awards, meet the winners and to hear more about their stories.

It is absolutely right we honour their bravery and show not only how proud we are of our police officers in Scotland, but also of members of the public who don’t hesitate to take action to help another person at what could be the most difficult time of that individual’s life.

The actions of the winners – both officers and members of the public – have undoubtedly saved lives and touched the hearts of people across the country.

People become police officers to help others - I hope these awards make more people consider policing as a career when they see the difference they could make to others in their day to day work.