Three NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) staff members and one nursing team have been named as finalists in the nationally recognised RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards 2026.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Scotland today announced the finalists for its fourth annual Nurse of the Year Awards, which celebrate excellence in Scottish nursing by highlighting the dedication, compassion, innovation and professional expertise demonstrated across the country.
These awards recognise the breadth of nursing practice across health and social care, from hospitals to care homes, prisons, community settings and the military, and honour registered nurses, nursing support workers, students and nursing teams who embody the very best of the profession.
Professor Angela Wallace, Nurse Director for NHSGGC, said: “Huge congratulations to colleagues across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde who have been announced as finalists for this year’s RCN Awards. Thank you for all the work that you do.
“I wish our nominees every congratulations now, and the very best of luck for the ceremony later this year.”
NHSGGC finalists are as follows:
Inspiring Excellence, Nursing Innovation and Research Award
Tracy Downey, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, NHSGGC
Tracy is as an exceptional leader whose innovation and compassion have transformed cancer care for older adults living with frailty. As a central figure in establishing the Cancer Older People’s Service (COPS), Scotland’s first outpatient occupational therapy-led frailty service within oncology, Tracy has helped embed frailty‑focused, person‑centred care into cancer pathways.
Her work addresses functional decline, cognitive impairment, psychosocial distress, falls risk and rehabilitation needs, enabling patients to stay safely at home, participate in treatment, and maintain quality of life.
Her service has delivered measurable impact, including high attendance rates, reduced hospital admissions, safer falls management, improved independence, and 100% positive feedback from patients and families involved in care planning.
Tracy is also committed to developing others, mentoring junior staff and promoting frailty awareness across multidisciplinary teams.
Learning Disability Nursing Award
Susan (Susie) Craig, Clinical Nurse Specialist in Respiratory and Learning Disability, Blythswood House, NHSGGC
Susie has transformed access to respiratory care for people with learning disabilities across NHSGGC by bridging gaps between services and ensuring equitable, person‑centred support.
She identified barriers affecting access to respiratory assessments, including difficulties with diagnostic tests and eligibility criteria, and collaborated with secondary care teams to introduce reasonable adjustments and establish a specialist clinic offering tailored hospital and home‑based care.
Susie also designed a suctioning equipment pathway that has reduced aspiration risk, prevented hospital admissions, lowered carer stress and resulted in improved quality of life for patients and families.
Alongside her clinical impact, she has strengthened the workforce through education, training and development of guidelines and resources to ensure lasting improvements in respiratory care.
People’s Choice Award
Daniel Doyle, Staff Nurse / Volunteer Registered Nurse, NHSGGC & Glasgow Street Aid
Daniel, from Glasgow, has been nominated for his exceptional humanity, calmness and compassion when caring for people in highly vulnerable situations.
As a volunteer nurse with Glasgow Street Aid, he provides frontline care to people experiencing homelessness, addiction, or mental health crises — often late at night, in challenging environments.
He is widely praised for treating every person with dignity and respect, offering reassurance beyond clinical care. One patient described him as “the first nurse who ever made me feel like a person again.”
Daniel also mentors volunteers and students, modelling professionalism, empathy and best practice in emergency care. His nursing journey spans social care and work with children with complex congenital heart conditions at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow.
He believes nursing is about rescuing lives and offering hope, ensuring no one is overlooked at their most vulnerable.
Mental Health Nursing Award
His Majesty’s Prison and Young Offenders’ Institute (HMYOI) Lilias Centre – Nursing Team, NHSGGC
HMYOI Lilias is one of Scotland’s two Community Custody Units, and the UK’s first designed specifically for women, offering a trauma‑informed, gender‑specific and therapeutic environment as an alternative to traditional prisons.
The nursing team supports women with complex health and social needs, including chronic physical and mental health conditions, addiction issues and elevated sexual health risks.
Innovative approaches include on‑site sexual health services, pre‑liberation contraception consultations and multidisciplinary planning to ensure seamless continuity of care on release.
Their work reduces health inequalities, supports rehabilitation, enhances community reintegration, improves public safety and delivers wider social and economic benefits.
Julie Lamberth, RCN Scotland Board Chair, said: “Our Awards are a defining moment in the nursing calendar — a time to celebrate everything that makes our profession extraordinary in Scotland. Every one of our finalists stands as a shining example of the dedication, compassion, and commitment that drive the very best of nursing care for the people of Scotland.”
RCN Scotland Executive Director Colin Poolman added: “This is our opportunity to acknowledge the excellence, innovation, and unwavering commitment of Scotland’s nursing community. I hope every finalist — and everyone who was nominated — feels the deep gratitude and admiration we all share for the incredible work they do.”
The winners of each category will be announced at a ceremony on 30 April 2026 at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. The RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year 2026 will be selected from the registered nurse category winners.
