THE first nurse consultant at a Dudley hospital Trust has been appointed honorary associate professor at Aston University.

Dr Gail Parsons, nurse consultant in trauma and orthopaedics at The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, has been appointed Honorary Associate Professor in Practice at the College of Health and Life Sciences, Aston University.

The university grants honorary professorships to people of "significant renown within their own discipline”.

Dr Parsons, who was appointed as the trust’s first nurse consultant in 2006, said: “I was absolutely delighted and so proud to be appointed – not only for the personal achievement but for the wider trust.

“I believe it is important to remain up-to-date with current research opportunities and evidence-based practices and to publish and share our work with the overall focus of making a difference to the patient journey.

“It is very rewarding to receive the recognition for the work I always strive to deliver – and, in particular, to be able to contribute to making a difference to patient care and teaching others gives a great deal of satisfaction.”

The position is for five years and allows a strong working relationship between the trust and the university, and it allows Dr Parsons to share her knowledge and help students to reach their full potential.

She said: “I want to inspire the nursing students to work hard and aim high in their chosen career, so that they may reach their full potential, and know that anything is possible.”

Dr Parsons, who was appointed director of research and innovation at The Dudley Group in 2022, plans to deliver a master class in trauma and orthopaedics within the programme. She is also part of the steering group for Aston Research Centre for Health and Aging which aims to understand, predict, prevent and treat age-related degeneration and disease.