Tipperary medical world mourns the passing of renowned carer Prof Patricia Morris-Thompson

The death has taken place of Professor Patricia Morris-Thompson, late of Annbrook, Nenagh, London and California.

Prof Morris-Thompson spent most of her life working in the nursing sector in a career in which she became one of the most senior nurses in the UK care sector.

During her 38-year career before her retirement in 2017, she worked in high-ranking positions both in the NHS in Britain and the private sector and was a vocal ambassador for nurses and carers.

She was Quality and Clinical Governance at Barchester Healthcare at the time of her retirement.

As well as being director at Barchester Healthcare, she was nurse advisor to Care England; trustee for the Florence Nightingale Foundation, and a position in the NMC Professional Strategic Advisory Group.

Prof Morris-Thompson has received a string of accolades, including an RCN Fellowship Award for an outstanding contribution to nursing.

She was also an established author and her work has been published frequently in professional journals. With an international reputation for leadership in nursing and midwifery, she won many coveted awards for her services.

Last July, she abseiled down London's tallest sculpture from 262 feet above the British capital at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to raise funds for the Dillon Quirke Foundation.

At the time she said: "“If we save one life it will be a true legacy to a much-loved and admired young man - personally I think there will be more lives saved."

She said that she was inspired to to the jump because Dillon was “a wonderful young man” and gifted hurler who came from a great family.

Prof Morris-Thompson was a daughter of Nenagh Éire Óg stalwart Jimmy Morris and a sister of Cllr Seamus Morris. She was an aunt of Tipperary hurling star Jake Morris and camogie star Alanna Morris.

Prof Morris-Thompson passed away peacefully at UCLA Hospital California on February 1.

Predeceased by her beloved mother Nonie, sisters Monica O'Brien and Jane Devaney and sister-in-law Bernie Morris.

She will be sadly missed by her beloved husband Matt, and sons Luke and Sean, as well as her dear father Jimmy Morris and her brothers and sisters Marian, Martin, Con, Bernadette, Seamus, Gerard and Martina, aunts, uncles, daughter-in-law Rachel, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nephews and nieces, cousins, relatives, neighbours and friends.

Funeral arrangements later.