British Empire Medalfor Carluke nurse

Staff nurse Margaret Russell said she was “overwhelmed” to receive the prestigious honour, awarded to her for service to healthcare in Lanarkshire.

Margaret (62) who works at Wishaw General Hospital, has spent all of her 36-year nursing career in Lanarkshire.

She said: “I love my job and it’s a privilege to help people. I treat people as I would want to be treated myself.

“The thanks I get from patients and their families is all the reward I need, so I am amazed and overwhelmed to receive the British Empire Medal.”

Margaret, from Carluke, added: “I wasn’t on duty when the official letter came to the hospital. A colleague called me at home and said I had to phone London urgently.

“I was worried what it was all about – then astonished when I made the call and was told I had been nominated. I accepted on the spot.

“The honour is a tribute to many more people than just me – I have worked with some great colleagues in Lanarkshire and I was taught nursing by the best.”

Margaret, who works in general surgical nursing, was based at the former Law Hospital before moving to Wishaw General when it opened 15 years ago.

The honour will be presented to her at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh. Her sister will go with her as her guest.

Margaret is also renowned for looking after her colleagues at the hospital.

“She keeps us going with her home baking,” said staff nurse Joanne Bell, who works with Margaret on ward 17. “She is also great at knitting. If anybody has a baby, Margaret makes them something. She also knits to help fundraise for the ward. Most of all she is a fantastic, caring nurse who always helps her colleagues.”