20 June 2025
A Children’s Nurse who has dedicated nearly 30 years to caring for young patients in Wolverhampton has been recognised with a national award for her outstanding achievements during her studies.
Sara Eacopo receiving her Dame Elizabeth Fradd Prize
Sara Eacopo, Matron for the Children’s Community Nursing Service and Clinical Nurse Specialists at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, has been awarded the Dame Elizabeth Fradd Prize. The accolade celebrates the most outstanding student on the Specialist Practitioner Qualification (SPQ) in Children’s Community Nursing at universities across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Sara began her Nursing training in 1993 and qualified as a Children’s Nurse in 1996. She joined the Trust that same year, starting on the Children’s Ward before joining the Children’s Community Nursing Service in 2004, where she has worked ever since. She became a Queen’s Nurse, an honour that promotes the highest standards of patient care in the community, in 2020.
She studied on the Community Health Studies Programme (SPQ in Children’s Community Nursing) at the University of South Wales, a course she undertook to help promote and protect a vital specialism in community care.
“I am so surprised. I have enjoyed every moment of my study and being part of the university – and receiving this award is the very luxurious icing on the cake!” she said.
“I feel incredibly grateful to have been nominated. Working within Children’s Community Nursing as a Matron is so rewarding, and this recognition means a great deal to me. Thank you.”
Sara said she has had many proud moments throughout her career, including becoming a Queen’s Nurse and a Florence Nightingale Scholar. She is also part of a large national Community Children’s Nursing support group, sponsored by the Queen’s Nursing Institute.
She added: “I feel really fortunate that I love my job and I’m grateful for all the support I’ve had from colleagues and management to develop my knowledge and training.
“Being part of the University of South Wales at a critical point in the change for the SPQ programme and helping to champion the importance of this qualification has also been a real highlight. It’s so important that Children’s Community Nursing is not seen as a shrinking specialism.”
Michelle Pannier, Senior Lecturer in Community Nursing (Child) at the University of South Wales, said: “Congratulations. It was a unanimous decision and your student peers contributed by giving their rationale also.
“Well done, so well deserved.”
Professor Dame Elizabeth Fradd DBE was a Fellow of the QNI among her many other affiliations and accomplishments.
During her career, having trained as a Children’s Nurse, Dame Elizabeth held a variety of posts as Registered Nurse, Midwife and Health Visitor. She went on to support the Nursing profession nationally, becoming Deputy Chief Nursing Officer for England and serving as Director of Nursing/Lead Director for reviews and inspections at the Commission for Health Improvement.