SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, has nominated local nurse Catherine Maciver as the constituency’s ‘Local Hero’, and invited her to the opening of Parliament to recognise her work as COVID Vaccination Clinic Lead Nurse for the impressive vaccination rollout in the Western Isles.
Every Member of the Scottish Parliament was asked to name one of their constituents who had made an extraordinary contribution to the lives of other people during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Those selected by their MSP, including Mrs Maciver, have been invited to contribute to the Scottish Parliament’s Opening Ceremony, an event which will take place on Saturday 2nd October to formally mark the new session of the Parliament.
Catherine Maciver was put forward by the Western Isles Health Board as someone who has been instrumental to the success of the local Covid-19 vaccination programme. A retired senior charge nurse, Mrs Maciver returned to work to head up the mass vaccination clinic in Stornoway.
After his meeting with Mrs Maciver earlier this week, Alasdair Allan said:
“I would like thank Catherine for her incredible efforts, along with those of her NHS colleagues throughout the islands, which have ensured such a rapid and successful vaccine rollout here in the Western Isles. These past 18 months have been challenging for everyone, but particularly for our healthcare workers, and I would like to express my gratitude to everyone at NHS Western Isles for all they have done and continue to do despite the ongoing challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I am delighted that Catherine has accepted my invitation to represent the Western Isles at the Scottish Parliament’s Opening Ceremony as our ‘Local Hero’. I know that Catherine is keen to make clear that this recognition extends to everyone involved in the vaccination programme locally who ensured that the Western Isles was able to vaccinate its population probably more rapidly than virtually any community in the world.”
Catherine commented: “It is a huge honour to have been selected for the Local Hero nomination and I would like to thank all those who supported the nomination.
“I would like to say a huge thank you to the team of vaccinators who participate in clinics every day and to those who support and plan behind the scenes, to ensure our clinics run like well-oiled machines. Everyone has been amazing and I’m proud to be part of it.”