TUESDAY, 28 MAY, 2024

Photographs attached: 1 – The Care Experienced Young People’s Service, 2 – Denise Harrison, 3 – Karen Laing (far right) and the Learning Disability Queen’s Nurses, 4 – CAMHS Intellectual Disability Outpatient Nursing Team, 5 – Gemma Walker

Tayside nurses scoop top awards at RCN Scotland Awards ceremony

Nurses from across NHS Tayside have won awards in a number of categories at the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards.

NHS Tayside was well represented at the awards ceremony with five finalists across four categories, and ended the night with three winners, one runner up and one highly commended.

The Care Experienced Young People’s Service (CEYPS) won the Children’s Nursing and Midwifery Award. The team of nurses and midwives is based in Dundee and provides care, support and advice to children and young people up to the age of 26 who are care experienced. The CEYPS works closely with social workers, school nurses, doctors and other professionals to support access to and increase engagement with health services, while also offering support on a range of health-related topics such as sexual health, emotional and mental wellbeing.

Denise Harrison, who is a GP practice nurse at Brechin Health Centre took home the People’s Choice Award. Denise worked tirelessly to support patients in the Brechin area who were affected during Storm Babet, providing care and treatment to people who were moved to hotels due to severe flooding. She also set up a bereavement café in the health centre for patients who are struggling to cope with the loss of a loved one. This was as a result of her own personal experience of losing her husband to cancer.

In the Learning Disability Nursing category, Dundee community learning disability nurse Karen Laing was among the winning group of Learning Disability Queen’s Nurses and The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Intellectual Disability (CAMHS ID) Outpatient Nursing Team was named runner up.

The Queen’s Nurses created an animation called Think COULD, which aims to raise awareness about the need for better support for individuals with learning disabilities in the justice system.

The CAMHS ID team was created to improve access to assessment and treatment for children and young people with intellectual disabilities. The multi-disciplinary team has worked together to enhance collaboration between various other services and organisations, and has implemented person-centred evidence-based care. This work has shown significant improvements including reduced waiting times, increased access to services, and better outcomes for patients, alongside meeting the key objective for the Scottish Government to address health inequalities for this often-marginalised group.

Healthcare support worker Gemma Walker, who is an associate practice educator in the Practice Development Team, was highly commended in the Nursing Support Worker of the Year Award. In her role at Ninewells Hospital, Gemma provides induction, development and skills training to healthcare support workers (HCSWs) across various areas. She emphasises person-centeredness and kindness in her work, and has been instrumental in developing the role of assistant practitioners. Gemma's contributions have led to innovative ways of working and have supported learning and development within the team. 

NHS Tayside Nurse Director Claire Pearce said, “I am thrilled that so many of our outstanding nurses have been honoured with prestigious awards at the RCN Nurse of the Year Awards. This recognition is a testament to their exceptional dedication, skill, and compassionate care they provide to our patients.

“Their commitment to excellence and innovation in nursing not only elevates the standards of care within NHS Tayside but also inspires us all to strive for greatness in our roles. They have been recognised for showcasing their profound impact on patient care, the nursing profession and to our community.

“Congratulations once again to our award-winning nurses. thank you for your exemplary service and for making a significant difference in the lives of those we care for every day.”

The Care Home Nursing Award also went to a local nurse, with clinical lead Robyn Oliphant from Lisden Care Home taking the award home to Kirriemuir.

The RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards spotlight excellence in Scottish nursing, acknowledging, highlighting and celebrating the unwavering commitment and exceptional professional care provided by our nursing staff. For more information on the awards and all the winners please visit www.rcn.org.uk/scotland/News-and-Events/News.

Contact:

Louise Wilson

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740718