Hard-working health and social care workers from across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde gathered last night to recognise their colleagues at the health board’s annual Celebrating Success Awards.
Teams and individuals were honoured in seven Excellence Awards categories during the ceremony at the Radisson hotel in Glasgow.
The winners cover a range of specialties and disciplines, from breaking down barriers to healthcare and improving medical training, to providing specialist cancer care and supporting women in Gaza.
However, the highlights of the evening were the presentation of two special Awards of Excellence, from NHSGGC Chair Dr Lesley Thomson KC and NHSGGC Chief Executive Professor Jann Gardner.
The Fetal-Genetics Group at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital received the Chair’s Award of Excellence.
The group was established to improve the experience for patients and families planning or undergoing a pregnancy where there is a known family history of a genetic condition and/or pregnancy loss.
They provide a truly multi-disciplinary approach to appropriate support for pregnant woman and their partner at a difficult, distressing time, while also fostering an environment for shared learning – setting out a path for the future when genomic medicine is likely to play an even greater role in pregnancy care.
The Chief Executive’s Award of Excellence was presented to the Scottish Epilepsy Register, an innovative digital solution to highlight adverse events for people with epilepsy to allow early access to care.
For people living with epilepsy, early access to care allows reversible factors associated with poor outcomes to be identified and measures put in place to support those at greatest risk.
The Scottish Epilepsy Register has already demonstrated significant benefits and the team are now looking to roll out the innovation across Scotland, benefiting countless more people living with the condition.
Excellence Award winners were:
- Better Care – Cancer Older People’s Service: Based at the Beatson, this Occupational Therapy service is designed to provide tailored support for older cancer patients, as well as providing support with safe discharge for patients from hospital. It is currently the only service of its kind in Scotland, but discussions are under way to expand it to other cancer centres.
- Better Health – Pain Management Service: The help reduce health inequalities and barriers to access for non-English speakers, the team launched a number of initiatives to improve access and engagement with healthcare services. The result has been a new whole-system approach that has brought significant benefits, enhancing the patient experience and strengthening the clinical team.
- Better Value – North West Primary Care Pharmacy Team – Zendesk: This project has transformed how community pharmacies interact with GP practices. It allows them to submit their queries online instead of through time-consuming phone calls, improving response times and ensuring patient care is prioritised. It has also improved patient experience, freed up clinical capacity and brought significant cost savings.
- Better Workplace – Allied Health Professions Practice Education Team: The team has been recognised for its work on revolutionising education for AHPs across 12 professions, creating innovative pathways for both current and future practitioners. A new comprehensive framework has fostered unique learning opportunities and promoted career development, building a culture of inclusivity and ambition within the AHP community.
- Nursing and Midwifery – Beatson Ward B3 nurses: This team deliver brachytherapy, a type of radiotherapy that gives radiation inside the body of women with gynaecological cancers. It is the only nurse-led service of its kind in Scotland and, as well as improving turnaround times, has taken a huge time commitment away from senior consultants who previously carried out these treatments.
- Global Citizenship – Gerry O’Hare and Dr Abdulla Alhasso: Breast Cancer Advanced Nurse Practitioner Gerry O’Hare and Dr Abdulla Alhasso, a Consultant Clinical Oncologist, have given up their own time to undertake regular visits to Gaza, collaborating with local professionals to enhance the clinical outcomes for women diagnosed with breast cancer.
- Volunteer – Morag Brierton: Morag, a volunteer driver for the Royal Alexandra Hospital Health at Heart team, is one of NHSGGC’s longest serving volunteers. She transports patients to and from the hospital for cardiac rehab exercise classes, building strong relationships with patients, many of whom are older and at risk of isolation.
Throughout the evening, 18 other winners were announced across NHSGGC’s local sectors, Health and Social Care Partnerships and other services including Regional Services, Public Health and Estates & Facilities.
In addition, the William Cullen Prize for Innovation was awarded to the RedStar Fracture Liaison Service based in the South Sector, and led by Dr Maria Talla.
The service aims to identify and treat patients over the age of 50 who have sustained a fragility fracture, and refer them for an assessment of their bone health in order to reduce their risk of subsequent fractures.
The William Cullen Prize for Education was presented to Intensive Care Medicine at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
Over the last year, this department, led by Dr Barbara Miles, has demonstrated an excellent profile in training all grades of doctors. The award recognises Dr Miles and the medical and multidisciplinary teams for their work to deliver a wonderful trainee experience which has led to improved clinical care for patients.
During last night’s event, more than £2250 was raised for charity, with the proceeds being split between the JMA Trust and Glasgow Street Aid.
After the ceremony, Dr Lesley Thomson KC, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Chair, said: “Every day our staff and volunteers go above and beyond to provide the best possible care and support to patients, relatives and staff.
“The Celebrating Success Awards are an opportunity for us to recognise that, and this year’s winners are fantastic examples of the hard work and incredible dedication all our staff display year round.
“I would like to extend my personal thanks and congratulations to them, and to everybody who was shortlisted. Every award winner and nominee should be immensely proud of themselves for the contribution they make to the delivery of healthcare in Scotland.”
Professor Jann Gardner, Chief Executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “Our staff are our greatest asset and their voices will shape our way forward. Therefore, since I joined NHSGGC earlier this year, I began my commitment to regularly visit services around the NHSGGC area and hear directly from our staff.
“I have been struck by the professionalism and dedication of the people I have met, but also their warmth and genuine desire to help those in their care. We are very fortunate to have such committed and inspiring staff providing the very best clinical care possible.
“These awards recognise not only the individual endeavours of all our winners and our nominees, but also demonstrate the wide range of skills and talent of the people who do so much to help our patients, the public and staff every day.
“I would like to thank them all, and add my congratulations to everyone whose work has been recognised at this event.”
For more from the 2025 ceremony, including pictures and information on winners, categories and individual nominations, please go to the NHSGGC Website: https://www.nhsggc.scot/celebratingsuccess
