Ellistown-based Tracy Yole has been elevated to the ranks of nursing royalty.

She has earned the title of Queen's Nurse, and has been admitted as a member of the Queen's Nursing Institute.

The accolade is reserved for those who work in community nursing and have "demonstrated a high level of commitment to patient care and nursing practice".

Tracy currently works as deputy head of nursing for Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust's community health services. 

That means she is the professional lead for around 700 community nurses and healthcare assistants who work across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, delivering care to patients in their own homes.

Previously she was matron of the inpatient wards at Coalville Community Hospital, but she started her career as a surgical nurse in an acute hospital.

Tracy said: "Community is a fantastic place to work because of the breadth and depth and variety of opportunities it presents. 

"You have the privilege of looking after patients in their own homes, working with them so they can live the best life they can. You also have a great deal of autonomy to provide the right support to patients at the right time in the right place in the right way. 

"And you are also often the voice for the patient when they are not able to be that for themselves.

"The Queen's Nurse award is one of the highest accolades that you can get in community nursing, and I feel very, very privileged to have been awarded it.

"I'm already taking an active part in the Queen's Nurse network, sharing some key quality improvement work and getting some fantastic new ideas."

Outside work of work, Tracey enjoys hiking, mountain biking and surfing. 

She met her husband when she took a kayaking course he was leading.

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust provides community health, mental health and learning disabilities services for the one million people living in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. 

It has a budget in excess of £395 million and employs around 7,100 staff.