This award is a wonderful recognition of what can be achieved through teamwork, collaboration, shared expertise and a genuine commitment to improving patient care.

Our award-winning Haemochromatosis Venesection Education Programme reflects the dedication, planning, coordination and hard work involved in developing and delivering meaningful educational opportunities for General Practice Nurses across Ireland.

Behind every successful initiative is a team of dedicated people, each bringing their own skills, experience and commitment to achieving a shared goal. From the early planning and development stages through to the organisation, administration and delivery of the programme, this achievement reflects the combined efforts of those who worked together to bring it to fruition. We are particularly proud of the commitment and teamwork within the IGPNEA and the strong partnership established with the Irish Haemochromatosis Association.

Our Chairperson, Sharon Kinsella, was honoured to accept the award on behalf of the IGPNEA team. Also representing the IGPNEA on the night were IGPNEA Vice-Chairperson Marion Curtin, IGPNEA Administrator Roberta Tuckey, and IGPNEA Membership Administrator Una O’Shea, whose work and commitment have been instrumental in supporting this educational initiative.

Our sincere thanks also go to the Irish Haemochromatosis Association for collaborating with us and to Margaret Mullett, President of the Irish Haemochromatosis Association, Miriam Forde and Nurse Margaret Dobbin for attending the event with us. This partnership and shared commitment to improving haemochromatosis care have been invaluable.

We also extend our appreciation to the wonderful General Practice Nurses who attended and supported the programme, our dedicated “Iron Nurses”, and the education and training nurses throughout Ireland who continue to champion professional development and excellence in patient care.

The judges recognised the programme’s potential to improve care for people living with haemochromatosis by equipping General Practice Nurses with the skills to provide venesection closer to patients’ homes, supporting accessible, community-based healthcare while helping to ease pressure on hospital services.

For us, this award is a celebration of the relationships, commitment and collective effort that underpin everything we strive to achieve as an Association. It is also a reminder of the incredible things that can happen when people bring their knowledge, energy and expertise together with a shared purpose.

We congratulate all the outstanding finalists and award recipients who continue to make such a positive contribution to healthcare in Ireland.

We are immensely proud of our team, our partners and everyone who played a part in this achievement. Together, we continue to advance education, support General Practice Nurses and make a meaningful difference to patient care across Ireland.