Congratulations to all the nominees and winners at the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Diagnostics Directorate Staff Awards 2026
The event took place at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, and every nomination received told a story of individuals and teams who have made a meaningful impact – on services, on colleagues and, most importantly, on patients. Everyone was delighted to be part of an occasion that celebrates the extraordinary people who make up diagnostics services.
The 2026 winners are:
Employee of the Year – Sarah Zycinski
Sarah Zycinski is a highly respected Advanced Practice Reporting Radiographer recognised for her professionalism, leadership, and commitment to service improvement. She consistently demonstrates strong clinical expertise alongside a collaborative and supportive approach to multidisciplinary working. Proactive and dependable, she contributes beyond her core role to enhance patient care. Over the past 18 months, she has shown exceptional dedication by qualifying as NHSGGC’s first chest X-ray reporting radiographer.
Innovation of the Year – DEXA Physics Review & Optimisation Project Team
The DEXA Physics Review and Optimisation Project Team delivered a comprehensive multi-site review of testing methodologies across the West of Scotland, strengthening quality assurance and ensuring regulatory compliance. Their standardisation of procedures improves data quality and diagnostic accuracy. Ongoing work toward cross-site calibration will enhance flexibility for patients, reduce waiting times, and improve service resilience through a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach.
Leader of the Year (Joint winners)
Dr Sylvia Wright
Dr Sylvia Wright is an exceptional and compassionate leader who has delivered significant improvements in pathology services. Her leadership has reduced backlogs, improved turnaround times, and enhanced biopsy triage, enabling earlier diagnoses for patients. She has fostered a culture of continuous improvement while improving staff experience, empowering teams to work more effectively and with greater engagement, ultimately strengthening both service delivery and patient care.
Dr Ruth Allen
Dr Ruth Allen has demonstrated sustained leadership in paediatric radiology, positively impacting both staff and patient care. She has led the development of the sonographer service at RHC Glasgow, supporting training and professional development. Through effective engagement and responsiveness to feedback, she drives service improvement. She has also been instrumental in establishing national specialist services, enhancing care for paediatric patients across NHSGGC. (Unfortunately Dr Allen could not attend to be photographed).
Team of the Year – Mechanical Workshop
The Mechanical Workshop consistently delivers innovative, practical solutions that support safe and effective clinical practice. By designing bespoke equipment adaptations, the team improves staff safety, reduces manual handling risks, and enhances efficiency. Their work enables new models of care, improves workflows, and supports high-quality patient outcomes. Reliable and responsive, they make a significant and sustained contribution to service delivery and organisational resilience.
