"Humbled" care worker receives MBE and champions others on the front line

Thursday 31 December 2020

Dr Sue Fleming MBE not only became the first person in Guernsey to be vaccinated against Covid-19, she’s also been named in the 2021 New Year’s Honours list.

Dr Fleming has been a nurse for 35 years and has been the Matron of St John Residential home since 2011. Earlier this month, Dr Fleming received the first round of the Pfizer vaccine and is due to have her second dose and be fully vaccinated in the coming week.

The news of her MBE was a shock to both her and her family. “It took me by complete surprise, I’m very humbled, I’m very proud,” she said.

Pictured: Dr Fleming said she felt "absolutely fine" after the jab earlier this month.

During the start of the Covid-19 pandemic Dr Fleming was chosen to head a healthcare team that supported care homes and their residents across the island.

She went above and beyond, facing some of the toughest challenges ever seen by our healthcare workers. She helped recruit former staff, sourced PPE during shortages and distributed iPads to residents so they could keep in contact with their families.

“The group met every day at the real peak of the outbreak,” she said.

Pictured: Dr Fleming has been Matron of St John residential care home for almost a decade. 

The key message Dr Fleming wanted to get across was that this award recognises not only her, but all the support she and our island has received.

“For me it’s really important to recognise other key people, and for me that’s obviously my family, the staff here at the home and all the other people who work in the care home sector across the Bailiwick”

She said it’s an overlooked industry.

“People who work in the nursing home sector don’t often get recognised, so while this award has been given to me, recognition has to be given to people who work across the sector.”

Three other people from the Channel Islands were named in the Honours list as well.

Pictured top: Dr Fleming ensured all hospital patients moving to and from care homes got tested for Covid-19.