TUESDAY, 20 JANUARY, 2026

Immediate release

Meet the inspirational finalists in NHS Tayside’s STAR Awards 2025-26

The finalists in this year’s NHS Tayside STAR Awards have been announced following another record-breaking number of nominations.

Now in their eighth year, the accolades shine a spotlight on the dedication, compassion and innovation shown by staff and volunteers working across NHS Tayside and in local health and social care partnerships.

More than 1309 nominations flooded in from staff and members of the public eager to recognise individuals, teams and services delivering outstanding patient care or going the extra mile in their job.

A glittering award ceremony will be held on 20 March at the Apex Hotel, Dundee, when the Gold, Silver and Bronze winners across 11 categories will be announced.

The finalists in each award category are:

Clinical Staff Award, sponsored by UNISON Tayside Healthcare Branch

• Ashley McKean, Assistant Practitioner, Speech & Language Therapy, Angus

• Diana Kamau, Occupational Therapy Support Worker, Perth Royal Infirmary

• Kirsten Shaw, Radiographer, Ninewells Hospital

• Lisa Steven, Paediatric Consultant, Ninewells Hospital

• Tracey Dewar, District Nurse, Perth

• Zahida Din, GP, Maryfield, Dundee

Support Staff Award, sponsored by UNISON Tayside Healthcare Branch

• Courtney Whyte, Receptionist, Gynaecology Assessment Unit, Ninewells Hospital

• Dagmara Dzalok, Quality Administrator/PA to Clinical Leads, Breast Screening, Ninewells Hospital

• David Malcolm, Maintenance Manager, Perth Royal Infirmary

• Elaine Lawson, Domestic, Public Health, Kings Cross

• Sabrina Simpson, IT Support, Ninewells Hospital

• Steven Stuart, Electrician, Perth Royal Infirmary

Clinical Team Award, sponsored by UNISON Tayside Healthcare Branch

• Assisted Conception Unit, Ninewells Hospital

• Dundee Community Treatment and Care Services

• Lymphoedema Service, Roxburghe House

• MacX Team, CAMHS Outpatient Department

• Paediatric Oncology Team, Tayside Children’s Hospital

• Ward 29, Tayside Children's Hospital

Support Team Award, sponsored by UNISON Tayside Healthcare Branch

• BSL/Interpretation & Translation Team

• Catering Team, Perth Royal Infirmary

• Hospital Discharge Team, Ninewells and Royal Victoria Hospitals

• Laundry Department, Ninewells Hospital

• Out of Hours Service Operations Team

• Soft Facilities Team, Crieff & St Margaret’s Community Hospitals

Young Achiever Award, sponsored by NHS Credit Union

Caitlin Scougall, Charge Nurse, Moredun Ward, Murray Royal Hospital

Emily Jones, Trainee Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Ninewells Hospital

Emily McCabe, School Nurse, Drumhar Health Centre, Perth

Emma Mills, Project Dietitian, Ninewells Hospital

Iona Cavill, Student Audiologist, Kings Cross

Jamie Ferrie, Clinical Psychologist, Stracathro Hospital

Unsung Hero Award, sponsored by Unite The Union

• Allison Armstrong, Healthcare Assistant, Paediatric Outpatients, Ninewells Hospital

• Connie Trayner, Admin Services Manager, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Ninewells Hospital

• Jacqueline McAllan, Team Leader, Carseview Centre

• Jamie Stewart, Peer Support Worker, Carseview Centre

• Lisa Plummer, Charge Nurse, HMP Perth

• Susan Anderson-Blake, Healthcare Assistant, Labour Suite, Ninewells Hospital

Innovation and Improvement Award, sponsored by NHS Tayside Charitable Foundation

• Amy Paul, Ward Assistant, Psychiatry of Old Age, Kingsway Care Centre

• Core Laboratory Managed Service

• Hepatology and Alcohol Care Team

• Hospital at Night Education Forum, Ninewells Hospital

• Pelvic and Obstetric Physiotherapy, Perth Royal Infirmary

• School Nursing Service

Inspiring Educator/Trainer Award, sponsored by NHS Tayside Charitable Foundation

• Emily Tait, Clinical Educator, Medicine, Perth Royal Infirmary

• Hannah Reynolds, Speech and Language Therapist, Royal Victoria Hospital

• Heather Robb, Midwife, Ninewells Hospital

• Ian Sanders, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, Ninewells Hospital

• Keren Hadden, Mental Health Education Officer, Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services, Dundee

• Simon Shepherd, Honorary Consultant, Dundee Dental Hospital

Social Impact and Global Citizenship Award, sponsored by NHS Tayside Charitable Foundation

• Gillian Elliott, Deputy Clinical Director, Dental, Springfield Medical Centre, Arbroath

• Jessica Maye, Charge Nurse, Ward 32, Oncology, Ninewells Hospital

• Waste Management Team, Pharmacy, Ninewells Hospital

Volunteer Award, sponsored by NHS Tayside Charitable Foundation

• Bill Duff, Renal, Ninewells Hospital

• Colin Muir, Ward 8, Royal Victoria Hospital

• Friends of Royal Victoria Hospital

• Gift Shop Volunteers, Ninewells Hospital

• Move Ahead Volunteers, Perth

• Volunteer Drivers, Dundee & Angus

Tayside Together Award, sponsored by NHS Tayside Charitable Foundation

• Healing Spaces: Growing Wellbeing with Nature, Dundee

• Peer Immunisation Programme, Public Health

• Perth & Kinross Child Protection Committee Guidance Group

• Reshaping Diabetes Care

• Respiratory Managed Clinical Network

• Specialist Palliative Care Service and Scottish Ambulance Service Partnership

NHS Tayside Chief Executive Nicky Connor said, “The response we had to our call for nominations says it all. We received an outstanding 1,309 responses, each celebrating the fantastic efforts of our health and social care staff.

“Every day we see individuals and teams deliver expert, compassionate care to patients and service users in our hospitals and communities, and I’d like to thank everyone who is so dedicated to making a difference at NHS Tayside.

“A huge congratulations to all those who have been selected as finalists but also to everyone who received a nomination – as always, the standard was extremely high, and we can’t wait to celebrate our amazing finalists at the ceremony in March.”

Chair Carole Wilkinson said, “We’re so proud to recognise our amazing finalists and those who were nominated for the STAR Awards. Showcasing their dedication, devotion and expertise reminds us all of the incredible work that goes on every day across every aspect of NHS Tayside.”

The STAR Awards are supported by NHS Tayside Charitable Foundation and our category sponsors, UNISON Tayside Healthcare Branch, NHS Credit Union and Unite the Union.

Contact:

Lee Harrow

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740719