Professor of Infection Prevention recognised in NHS 75th anniversary celebrations

Glasgow Caledonian University Professor of Infection Prevention Jacqui Reilly’s contribution to the NHS has been recognised by the Nursing Times in a special edition marking 75 years of the NHS.

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the NHS, the Nursing Times compiled a list of 75 members of the profession who have made a significant contribution to the service, and have been sharing their stories on social media in the run up to the big day on July 5.

Professor Reilly CBE, who is the School of Health and Life Sciences Research Centre for Health (ReaCH) Safeguarding Health through Infection Prevention (SHIP) Research Group Co-Lead, and a Professor in the Nursing and Community Health Department, said: “It is an absolute privilege to be included in this prestigious Nursing Times list of nurses and midwives making an impact in the NHS over the last 75 years.

“It is recognition of the wider impact from the fantastic teams I have worked with over the years in the NHS and in the SHIP Research Group.”

As a career clinical academic, Professor Reilly has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications, contributed extensively to national and international guidelines, including the World Health Organization (WHO) core components for Infection Prevention Control. She is a member of the WHO technical advisory group on hand hygiene and a Trustee for the Florence Nightingale Foundation.

She is a fellow of the Faculty of Public Health (FFPH) and the Royal Society of Biology (FRSB). She was awarded a CBE in 2022 for services to healthcare and public health.

Professor Reilly is Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health (NMAHP) Director in NHS National Services Scotland and covers Public Health Scotland in her role. With a background in clinical practice, epidemiology, public health and clinical leadership in the NHS in Scotland, she has worked in a variety of settings, nationally and locally, including acute care and public health. She was the Lead Consultant for Healthcare Associated Infections, Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Prevention Control in Health Protection Scotland for more than 10 years, and led the development of that national service.

Dr Val Ness, Head of the Department of Nursing and Community Health, said: “Jacqui is dynamic, responsive, intelligent, a fantastic leader and communicator, and passionate about her work. It is because of these traits that she has managed to make such an impact both in the NHS and in the University in safeguarding against infection and enhancing the quality of patient care.”

NHS 75: Making an impact – Professor Jacqui Reilly - https://www.nursingtimes.net/nhs-75th-birthday/nhs-75-making-an-impact-professor-jacqui-reilly-30-06-2023/