TUESDAY, 15 APRIL, 2025

Photographs attached: 1 – The School Nursing Service, 2 – Gwen Gordon, 3 – Grant Cooper, 4 – Irene Third, 5 – Ninewells AMU Nursing Team, 6 – Angus Urgent Care ANP Team

Six Tayside finalists announced in prestigious national nursing awards

Tayside nursing staff from across a range of services have been recognised for their exceptional contributions to nursing in Scotland.

NHS Tayside has six finalists across five categories in the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards 2025.

The School Nursing Service has been shortlisted for the Children’s Nursing and Midwifery Award, which recognises those who have made an outstanding contribution to the care of children or young people or the care of mothers-to-be and new parents.

The dedicated, compassionate team provides innovative, high-quality care for school-aged children and young people across Tayside, supporting children in 10 priority areas, including mental health, child protection, care-experienced youth, homelessness, substance use, sexual health, and domestic abuse. By working holistically, and delivering trauma informed care, they strive to address adverse childhood experiences and ensure children have access to dental care, healthcare support, and family-focused interventions.

Clinical educator Gwen Gordon, has been named as a finalist for the Learning in Practice Award, which celebrates those who provide supervision and assessment, create high-quality learning environments, act as a role model, and enable and support learning and development.

Nominated for her outstanding mentorship and advocacy for internationally recruited nurses, Gwen provides clinical and professional training and offers emotional and practical support to nurses transitioning to life in the UK. Gwen’s impact is evident in high pass rates, improved patient care, and a more collaborative workplace, and her mentorship exemplifies compassionate leadership, resulting in measurable benefits for patients, nurses, and the broader healthcare system.

Grant Cooper, a newly qualified community nurse based in Forfar, is amongst the finalists for Nursing Student of the Year, which recognises those who have shown exceptional promise during their professional education and/or practice placement.

Grant made a bold career change to pursue nursing during the COVID-19 pandemic, while caring for his disabled parents. As a student, he stood out for his academic excellence and dedication in clinical placements, leading to him securing a competitive Erasmus+ scholarship to Lithuania, receiving glowing feedback from his placements and completing his degree with merit. After graduating from the University of Dundee and taking up post with NHS Tayside, Grant quickly gained recognition as a skilled and compassionate nurse.

In the Nursing Support Worker of the Year category, Catherine Third, known locally as Irene, from Loch Leven Health Centre was shortlisted as an exceptional healthcare support worker, leading with compassion, empathy, and commitment.

Irene is known for her genuine, person-centred care and her ability to go above and beyond for the people she cares for. She is widely respected by the medical team and is an expert in areas like venipuncture, phlebotomy, and long-term condition reviews, playing a key role in teaching her colleagues these skills. After 40 years of service, the legacy of care and compassion she will leave behind will continue to inspire others in the community.

There are two Tayside teams in the finals of the Nursing Team of the Year Award – the Ninewells Hospital Acute Medical Unit (AMU) Nursing Team, and the Angus Urgent Care Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) Team. This award aims to recognise that great nursing is often delivered in teams and in close partnership with multidisciplinary colleagues – or even patients or stakeholders.

The AMU Nursing Team at Ninewells is described as a model of exceptional teamwork and dedication, providing high-quality, patient-centred care in a high-pressure environment, demonstrating clinical expertise, resilience, and adaptability, and working collaboratively to manage a high volume of patients with complex medical needs. The team effectively manages workloads through streamlined care pathways and fosters a supportive work environment. Their focus on holistic, compassionate care has led to improved patient outcomes, satisfaction, and a positive impact on colleagues.

The Urgent Care ANP Team, which is part of Angus Health and Social Care Partnership, provides timely, high-quality urgent care to more than 10,000 patients annually. The team is fully integrated into primary care, collaborating with GPs, practice staff, and other healthcare providers to ensure seamless care. Starting as a pilot in a single GP practice, the team expanded rapidly across the region, helping to reduce waiting times, improve patient satisfaction, and reduce GP workloads. The team’s success is evident in fewer hospital admissions and improved continuity of care.

Executive Nurse Director Simon Dunn said, “It’s such an achievement for so many of our incredible nursing staff to be shortlisted in these prestigious awards. I’m delighted that the fantastic work they do for the people of Tayside is being recognised and celebrated on a national stage.

“We are fortunate to have so many dedicated staff working in nursing and midwifery roles across a wide range of services in NHS Tayside. I am so proud of all our finalists and wish them the best of luck at the awards ceremony.”

The winners of each category will be unveiled at a ceremony on 12 June at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

The RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards shine a light on excellence in Scottish nursing, acknowledging, highlighting and celebrating the unwavering commitment and exceptional professional care provided by nursing staff.

The categories encompass various nursing specialties, acknowledging the indispensable contributions of registered nurses, nursing support workers, broader nursing teams and nursing students. They also recognise the innovation, leadership and dedication to learning displayed within the nursing community.

Contact:

Louise Wilson

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740718