Christmas ‘honour’ at Downing Street
Mental health matron Karen Newberry had a sparkling day out this week with the Prime Minister.
She was invited to attend the Christmas Lights switch on at No 10 Downing Street after being nominated by colleagues to take part in a ballot.
The Downing Street lights were switched on by PM Sir Keir Starmer on Monday 1 December. To mark the occasion, the PM had invited public servants who will be working over Christmas to attend with a family member.
Karen Newberry, who is Matron for the Dragonfly adolescent inpatient unit and the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service Alternative to Admissions Team (CATAT) at NSFT, said: I felt honoured and proud to be invited to attend on behalf of the NHS and NSFT for the Christmas light switch on at No 10 Downing Street. It was a lovely experience but also a rather emotional one hearing the beautiful singers from the Manchester survivor's choir.
She added: I was not able to take a family member, so I was really pleased to be able to take the unit ward manager Emily Dobson with me for this amazing even.
Karen and Emily, who are both based at based at Carlton Court Hospital, were able to have a picture taken with the PM as well as outside Number 10.
Emily said: I am grateful to have been able to have the experience of visiting Number 10, the Manchester Survivors Choir was inspirational. It was great to chat to attendees from other public services, this was a lovely start to Christmas.
Karen and Emily with the PM.