An offshore medic has been recognised as a exceptional caregiver.
Bob Gardiner, an offshore medic and occupational health advisor, has been awarded the title of Queen’s Nurse.
Mr Gardiner was nominated for providing “high quality, compassionate care”, alongside 20 other community nurses across the UK.
The offshore medic was has worked in the oil and gas industry for 33 years, most recently based on Taqa’s Eider platform, 114 miles north-east of Shetland.
He said: “My role as a medic is to provide primary health care and emergency services to more than 90 people working on the platform.
“Health care delivery and health risk management in the oil and gas industry is challenging but exciting.
“I feel very proud to have gained the Queen’s Nurse title. There’s a lot of responsibility that comes with the role – we are standing on the shoulders of those who went before us as there’s so much history there with the title.
“It’s an honour and I want to do justice to the title and uphold the values of Queen’s Nursing, and I hope I’m doing it for all offshore medics by flying the flag for this role within community nursing.”
The announcement of the award to Mr Gardiner marks only the second time the honour has been made in Scotland in almost 50 years following its reintroduction in 2017.
TAQA health manager Dr Mark Cheesman said: “Bob will be unique among offshore medics in having the status of Queen’s Nurse.
“That will be deserved recognition for a colleague who is already a high achiever.”
