Memorial Board Honours Legacy of RNSH Nurse Michelle Beets

A memorial board to honour the legacy of Royal North Shore Hospital nurse Michelle Beets was unveiled today by Health Minister Jillian Skinner.

Ms Beets was nurse manager in the emergency department of RNSH when she was murdered at her Chatswood home in 2010. Her killer was jailed for life.

“I was fortunate to have met Michelle on several occasions and to have seen the high regard in which she was held,” Mrs Skinner said.

“Her death was a tragedy which devastated the staff and patients of Royal North Shore Hospital and shocked our city.

“She dedicated her life to caring for people and it is my privilege today to unveil this memorial board to ensure her memory lives on in the hospital she loved.

“It will serve as a permanent reminder of Michelle for those who work at Royal North Shore Hospital and those who are cared for in it,” Mrs Skinner said.

Ms Beets’ partner David Grant joined staff at the unveiling of the memorial board, which is located inside the emergency department and now bears the names of the 2012 and 2013 recipients of the Michelle Beets Memorial Award.

The NSW Government funded the $60,000 annual award to recognise four hospital employees – two from metropolitan areas, two from rural and regional areas – whose work improves the health of children in NSW.

The winners nominate to fund medical equipment to help further the provision of care for children in their chosen field.

Humpty Dumpty Foundation chairman Paul Francis was instrumental in creating the award. For the past three years, Humpty Dumpty has funded a paediatric clinical nurse educator role at the hospital, which is named in Michelle’s memory.

“The Michelle Beets Memorial Award recognises others like her who work on the frontline to achieve great things to advance children’s health in NSW,” Mr Francis said.

RNSH emergency department director Dr Rob Day said: “This award and memorial board is a fantastic and appropriate way to remember Michelle as a person as well as for her many years of dedicated service to Royal North Shore Hospital emergency department.”