AN award-winning nurse says meeting The Prince of Wales was the “best experience of her life”.

Nicola Johnstone, clinical lead nurse at Belong Atherton care village, met Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace in a reception to celebrate outstanding contributions of nurses working in front line care.

She was invited for her work in ensuring high standards of end-of-life care.

In her career she won the End of Life Care Award at the Great North West Care Awards in 2016, and both the Nurse of the Year and Peer Supported awards at the Wigan and Leigh Hospice Awards in the same year.

She was also a finalist for the End of Life Care Award at the 3rd Sector Care Awards in 2016 too.

Nicola said: “It was the best experience of my entire life.

“The whole event from start to finish was amazing.

“Prince Charles was very gracious. He thanked me for my work and said how grateful he was for the outstanding care he had received from NHS nurses in the past.

“He also asked me to hold his drink for him at one point.”

Nicola, who met Prince Charles last Wednesday, also works with hospitals, hospices and other healthcare providers to implement best practice in palliative care.

She added: “It is humbling to receive such recognition for work and I feel lucky to be able to do.

“Providing care to the residents of Belong Atherton and supporting my colleagues is a reward in itself.

“Having said that, I think I will be talking about this for years to come.

“My family are all very proud.”

Belong has praised Nicola for her service.

Deputy chief executive of Belong Tracy Paine said: “We are all very proud of Nicola and her contributions to raising standards of end-of-life care at Belong and in the local community.

"There are currently nearly 50,000 registered nurses working in adult social care in the UK who too often go unrecognised so it is excellent news Nicola is among those whose achievements are being celebrated."