Student invited to 10 Downing Street

Press release issued: 28 June 2011

Joanne Tonkin at 10 Downing Street

Anglia Ruskin University student Joanne Tonkin, the recent winner of the 2011 RCN Fellows Student Nurse Award, met with senior members of the government at a special event at 10 Downing Street.

The 24-year-old, who is studying a three-year DipHE in Adult Nursing at Anglia Ruskin's Fulbourn campus near Cambridge, was invited to meet Prime Minister David Cameron and the Secretary of State for Health Andrew Lansley.

Joanne won the award for her reflection of her first experience of being a student nurse in 2005 in which, while on a placement, a qualified colleague made a serious medication error.

Joanne Tonkin with Andrew Lansley

Joanne said:

"It was a great honour to have been invited to 10 Downing Street. It was a fantastic day and not even the torrential rain could dampen our spirits.

"I spoke to Anne Milton (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health) about poor practice and care in the NHS, and why some nurses fail to report their mistakes. It was good speaking to her as she has a nursing background herself.

"I also spoke to the Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley, about what it's like to be a nursing student. I told him that the course at Anglia Ruskin in Cambridge is going well."

The Downing Street event was arranged by the Nursing Standard, and editor in chief Jean Gray said: "Joanne's story is one that every student and nurse can learn from. The award judges were swayed by her courage in tackling a very difficult situation, one that many might have avoided dealing with.

"The judges were even more impressed that Joanne has now returned to her nurse training and I'm sure she will be successful wherever she goes in her nursing career."

Image credits: Mark Hakansson/Nursing Standard

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Student invited to 10 Downing Street