Our dedicated teams and individuals were nominated for the prestigious NHSGGC Excellence Awards by patients, visitors and staff. All of our staff have gone above and beyond in the past year and we asked to hear about your experience of outstanding care and for your nominations.
There are 7 categories in our Excellence Awards and the winners were announced at the Celebrating Success Event on 28 May 2025.
The winners were announced live on the night on our social media channels (follow the #ggcawards tag).
You can find out who the Gold Winners were, read about the Silver Winners who were shortlisted, and also view photos and videos in each of the categories below.
Congratulations to all our winners!
Better Care
This award recognises staff who provide and contribute towards incredible patient care improving everyday practices across NHSGGC.
Gold Winner – Cancer Older People’s service
The Cancer Older Peoples Service at the Beatson has successfully established and implemented a comprehensive Occupational Therapy service which is specifically designed to support older cancer patients. It is the only service of its kind in Scotland and uses targeted interventions to significantly improve functional outcomes for patients, as well as supporting their health and wellbeing. The team also concentrates on ensuring safe discharge for patients from hospital, and the best ways to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions. They will undertake a thorough assessment of a patient’s physical, psychological, and social needs, while also incorporating age-specific screenings and interventions into routine cancer care.
Evaluation has shown positive improvements in clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and overall cost-effectiveness, with clear areas identified for further growth. The team is currently in discussion with other cancer centres across the country to share its framework, which has proven to be a highly transferable model.
Better Health
This award commends staff who have implemented an initiative to improve the health and wellbeing of patients, the public and/or staff.
Gold Winner – Tackling Health Inequalities for People Accessing the Pain Management Service
The Pain Management Service has recognised for a long time, significant health inequalities and barriers to access for patients with communication support needs. For non-English-speaking patients, language barriers often create significant challenges when navigating the healthcare system. This is particularly true in specialised services like pain management, where understanding treatment options and communication with healthcare providers is critical for successful outcomes.
The service made it their priority to break down these barriers and improve accessibility, ensuring that every patient has the support they need, in the language they understand. To help achieve this and informed by patient and staff feedback, the team launched a number of initiatives from revision of patient materials to incorporating pain management into interpreter training.
Better Value
This award is for staff who have increased efficiencies taking a new approach to work making better use of resources.
Gold Winner – North West Primary Care Pharmacy Team – Zendesk
Zendesk aimed to streamline community pharmacy queries to enhance patient care in the North West of Glasgow City. Utilising the platform, community pharmacies submitted queries online rather than by phone, allowing for quicker and more efficient handling. Key objectives included routing queries to appropriate pharmacy team members, reducing administrative workload in GP practices, and improving turnaround time for medication-related issues.
Launched in November 2024, the system handled 435 queries in two months, with 81% resolved by Pharmacy Support Workers, thereby freeing up over 60 hours of pharmacist capacity for face-to-face patient care. The initiative not only saved staffing costs—almost £850 in eight weeks—but also provided self-help resources for community pharmacies.
With expectations to handle over 15,000 queries annually, the project is set to release nearly 2,100 hours of pharmacist time and achieve annual savings of approximately £31,000. This innovative use of IT to direct workload enhances service efficiency and patient safety.
Better Workplace
This award recognises the often unseen work of our staff who help make NHSGGC a better workplace, improving the culture and supporting colleagues.
Gold Winner – Allied Health Professions Practice Education Team
The GGC Allied Health Professions (AHP) Practice Education Team aimed to enhance the educational experience for students and AHP staff within NHSGGC by implementing a multi-dimensional education programme. The AHP Director prioritises an inclusive education strategic framework for 12 healthcare professions, including AHP Health Care Support Workers (HCSW), ensuring access to innovative learning opportunities for the current and future workforce.
The Practice Education Team has played a pivotal role over the past two years by collaborating with key partners, improving communication, and designing new AHP educational opportunities. Their efforts have raised the profile of AHPs, transformed NHSGGC’s educational offerings, and supported career development for staff and students.
Key deliverables include enhancing practice-based learning placements, developing a funded modular programme in collaboration with Glasgow Caledonian University, and supporting HCSW workforce development through flexible programmes. The team also plays a vital role in staff support during the recovery renewal period, leading initiatives like the Return to Practice programme and promoting clinical skills through simulation.
Global Citizenship
This award recognises staff who have travelled overseas to provide healthcare and/or education in developing countries or countries in crisis.
Gold Winner – Gerry O’Hare and Dr Abdulla Alhasso
Breast Cancer Advanced Nurse Practitioner Gerry O’Hare and Dr Abdulla Alhasso, a Consultant Clinical Oncologist, bring a combined 20 years of experience in supporting cancer care in Palestine, with a particular focus on breast cancer in Gaza. Breast cancer outcomes for women in Gaza are significantly worse when compared to neighbouring countries and international benchmarks. Gerry and Abdulla have undertaken regular visits to Gaza over the past five years, which has been done in their own time and with the support of the Medical Aid for Palestinian organisation.
They collaborate with healthcare professionals in Gaza to enhance the clinical outcomes for women diagnosed with breast cancer by improving both their diagnosis and treatments. The pair also participate in weekly online multidisciplinary meetings with Palestinian colleagues to discuss optimal care for women presenting with early and advanced breast cancer, while also navigating the extremely challenging local circumstances.
Nursing and Midwifery
This award recognises nurse(s) who demonstrate the best qualities of patient care and the ethos of nursing.
Gold Winner – Brachytherapy Nursing Team
Nurses on the Beatson’s B3 ward are a highly specialised team helping to care for women with gynaecological cancers. They deliver brachytherapy, a type of radiotherapy that gives radiation inside the body and run the only nurse-led service in Scotland for women who require this treatment. The nurses pre-assess and examine patients and insert the necessary cylinders to allow patients to receive high dose radiation within a specialised unit.
This is a regional service for patients attending for sealed and unsealed sources of treatment. Melanie Whyte, Senior Charge Nurse, has been instrumental in helping to develop and implement the necessary protocols, safety advice and training for nurses in the unit. Patient feedback has confirmed patients attending the unit are happy with the service, and turnaround time has improved service delivery while also taking a huge time commitment away from Senior Consultants who previously carried out these treatments.
Volunteer
Recognising people who go the extra mile contributing tirelessly and providing outstanding help and support for the benefit of others.
Gold Winner – Morag Brierton, RAH volunteer
Morag is NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s longest serving volunteer in acute services, having volunteered with the organisation for over 15 years. She is a Volunteer Driver for the Royal Alexandra Hospital Health at Heart team and transports patients to and from the hospital for cardiac rehab exercise classes in the Health at Heart gym. Within the service, patients also receive physiotherapy, education sessions, practical advice and emotional support, helping to rebuild their confidence and come to terms with a range of different heart conditions.
Transport within and around Renfrewshire to the hospital can be challenging, particularly for patients living in semi-rural areas. But Morag’s vital support helps break down barriers for patients – many of whom are older and at risk of isolation – in accessing the rehab programme. They enjoy spending time with Morag in the car having a chat, and she builds strong relationships with them over the weeks she is picking them up and taking them home.
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Celebration event intro
Celebration event intro
Recent previous winners of our Excellence Awards, Local Staff Awards, Chair’s Awards of Excellence, and the William Cullen Prize.
This year the Chair, Prof John Brown CBE, presented two awards which recognise outstanding achievement, expertise, and dedication in patient care. In common with all the other awards, these celebrate our people’s collective efforts and the lasting impact they have had on the lives of the people of Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
Andrew Thomson
One of Andrew’s patients was going through a high risk pregnancy, when her husband sadly passed away after a two week battle with cancer. On hearing the news, Andrew called to offer his condolences and also talk about how he and his team could support the patient during this heart breaking time.
Andrew has an incredible way of communicating with patients and their families, with empathy and intuitiveness in abundance.
Unscheduled and Urgent Care Services
Due to unprecedented pressures, our Urgent and Unscheduled Care services have adapted to new and ever-changing situations which have been nothing short of remarkable. From the launch of the Flow Navigation Centre and Mental Health Assessment Units, to the ongoing dedication, commitment and professionalism of our EDs, IAUs, Community Pharmacies, MIUs, in-hours and Out of Hours GP Services, who have worked tirelessly with the support of diagnostic services.
At the start of the pandemic, it became clear that those who became very ill with Covid need a place where they could be seen and assessed safely and away from non-Covid patients.
Our Community Assessment Centres were created. This significant project required input from all of the eHealth teams to ensure the centres had all the necessary telephony and IT kit. They also needed to be set up very quickly.
eHealth teams responded to the needs of the service, working above and beyond to introduce new processes to book in Covid patients outwith hospital settings. The staff showed immense flexibility and changed their hours of work and their roles. The success of the CACs was due to the commitment, flexibility and team working across eHealth to support the Board in its response to the pandemic.
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The William Cullen Prize for Excellence In Teaching and the William Cullen Prize for Service Innovation are awarded in collaboration with the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh.
William Cullen Prize for Innovation
Dr David Lockington is a Consultant Ophthalmologist based in Gartnavel General Hospital.
Dr Lockington identified the opportunity to transform unused rooms within the Tennent Institute of Ophthalmology library into a state of the art teaching suite for ophthalmology training. There are now three rooms which consist of an ophthalmic simulation area, a computer room for trainees and a seminar room.
The suite allowed simulated microsurgical skills to be developed and maintained during lockdowns, and is now used regularly by trainees and the wider multidisciplinary team. This development has been extremely well received by local trainees, and has addressed previously identified surgical training gaps.
Local ophthalmology training has been enhanced significantly, and to illustrate the impact, this initiative has since been replicated in other UK centres.
William Cullen Prize for Education – Joint Winners
Doctor Scott Morris is the Clinical Director for the Renal Unit, based in the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, though which provides a full range of renal services to the West of Scotland.
This unit has for some time demonstrated a high standard of teaching and training, as evidenced by consistent and positive feedback from trainees. Trainees emerge as highly trained renal physicians, having been supported by a skilled group of established Consultants with a range of subspecialty interests.
The experience gained while attached to the unit is clearly valued by trainees, who highlight in particular the supervision they receive within the department, the supportive environment and the overall level of satisfaction working within a very strong team.
Dr Libby Ferguson and the Palliative care team based in the Marie Curie Hospice in Glasgow continue to provide an extremely high standard of clinical training which trainees recognise with positive responses to the Scottish trainee survey and National training survey.
There is a strong culture of educational governance identified within the centre. Trainees attached to the team there give very positive feedback in all areas, with Foundation trainees in particular highlighting the very supportive and educational environment provided by the team, and General Practice Specialty Trainees similarly appreciating the education and experience that is provided.
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Staff Awards 2026
The Celebrating Success Staff Awards event will be held on the evening of the 30 October 2026. It is a chance to recognise our staff from across NHSGGC and celebrate their achievements in style.
The incredible commitment, passion, professionalism, and innovation of staff is inspirational and showcases the core NHS values embedded in NHSGGC. This is what helps us to navigate even the most challenging of times.
We deliver vital services under day-to-day pressures, at the same time evolving and innovating across the Board. Our staff strive to provide our patients with the best possible experiences, and it is a testament to every staff member that, despite ongoing challenges, outstanding levels of care are provided.
Before the excitement of the Awards Ceremony on the 30 October 2026, find out about the nominees in each of the award categories, by using the links below.
The winners will be announced live on the night on our social media channels (follow the #ggcawards tag).
Staff Awards 2025
Find all the winners, nominees and more below from our 2025 Celebrating Success Awards.
Every award winner and nominee should be immensely proud of themselves for the contribution they make to the delivery of healthcare in Scotland.
Find out about the winners and nominees from each award category below.
The winners were also announced live on the night on our social media channels (follow the #ggcawards hashtag).
Medical Director, Dr Scott Davidson, in collaboration with The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, will once again present two prestigious awards for Medical staff.
The William Cullen Prize for excellence in teaching and a separate William Cullen prize for service innovation will recognise a clinician, or clinician and team, as having made a significant contribution to local teaching or service innovation in Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
The winners of each Prize will receive a framed print of a William Cullen letter which will be selected from the Royal College’s archive. The William Cullen Prizes will be presented at our Celebrating Success Event.
We currently have recognition awards for medical teaching based on performance in the national trainee and student surveys. The overall William Cullen Prize winner will be selected from that cohort of around 20 of our top performers.
Innovation Prize
To enter or nominate for the William Cullen Prize Innovation award please complete this form. Dr Davidson and a panel of senior medical staff will form the judging panel.
Nomination Form
The following nomination will be opened from Monday 3 August 2026 and will close on Friday 28 August 2026.
The Chair’s Award of Excellence is an opportunity to celebrate the outstanding achievements, dedication, and innovation demonstrated across our NHSGGC teams.
Consider submitting a nomination, to help recognise teams who go above and beyond to deliver exceptional care, improve services, and make a positive difference for patients, families, and communities.
Take this chance to showcase the incredible work happening within your team or a team that you know and ensure these achievements receive the recognition they deserve.
Chief Executive’s Award of Excellence
The Chief Executive Award of Excellence recognises individual members of staff who consistently demonstrate exceptional commitment, professionalism, and dedication in their role.
It is an opportunity to celebrate those who make a significant difference to patients, colleagues, and services through their hard work, innovation, and leadership.
If you know someone who goes above and beyond every day, nominate them and help ensure their outstanding contribution is recognised and celebrated.
Fairer Health Award
This award recognises individuals, teams, and initiatives that are helping to reduce health inequalities and improve health and wellbeing across our communities and workforce.
We are looking for projects, programmes, or approaches that have made a positive impact in areas such as healthy lifestyles, smoking cessation, physical activity, mental health, financial wellbeing, health inequalities, or wider wellbeing support.
If you have been involved in an initiative that is helping people live healthier, happier lives, or reduced inequality, we want to hear about it.
This award celebrates those who are creating healthier, fairer futures for the people and communities we serve.
Nursing and Midwifery
This award celebrates nurses, midwives, and nursing or midwifery teams who consistently demonstrate excellence in care, compassion, professionalism, and leadership.
Do you know someone who has made an exceptional difference to patients, families, or colleagues? Perhaps they have gone above and beyond to provide outstanding care, introduced improvements that enhance patient outcomes, or embodied the values and ethos of the profession every day.
Whether working in a hospital, community setting, or specialist service, we want to hear about the individuals and teams whose dedication and commitment deserve recognition.
Outstanding Care Award
Every day, individuals and teams across NHSGGC make a remarkable difference to the lives of patients, families, and communities. This award recognises those who consistently deliver exceptional care and demonstrate a commitment to quality, compassion, and excellence.
We are looking for examples of outstanding practice that have improved patient outcomes, enhanced experiences, increased safety, or transformed the way care is delivered. This may include innovative approaches, service improvements, collaborative working, or acts of exceptional dedication that have made a lasting impact.
Whether through a single achievement or sustained excellence over time, this award celebrates those who go above and beyond to provide the highest standards of care.
Supporting Our People Award
Our people are at the heart of everything we do. This award recognises individuals and teams who have made an outstanding contribution to creating a positive, inclusive, and supportive working environment.
We are looking for examples of initiatives, behaviours, or leadership that have improved staff experience, supported wellbeing, promoted equality, diversity and inclusion, strengthened teamwork, or helped colleagues develop and thrive.
Have you introduced a new approach to teamwork, supported staff wellbeing, championed diversity and inclusion, or helped colleagues develop and reach their potential? Do you know someone who consistently creates a positive working environment and supports those around them?
This award celebrates those who help make NHSGGC a great place to work and grow.
Sustainability and Value Award
Delivering high-quality healthcare requires innovation, responsible use of resources, and a commitment to continuous improvement. This award recognises individuals and teams who have found new ways to improve efficiency, productivity, sustainability, and value while maintaining or enhancing the quality of care.
We are looking for initiatives that have reduced waste, improved processes, made better use of resources, lowered environmental impact, or delivered measurable benefits for patients, staff, and services.
This award celebrates those who are helping NHSGGC maximise value today while safeguarding resources for the future.
Volunteer
Volunteers play an invaluable role in supporting patients, families, communities, and services across NHSGGC. This award recognises those who give their time, skills, and experience to make a positive difference.
We are looking for volunteers, patient representatives, Public Partnership Forum members, patient panel participants, and others who have gone the extra mile to improve experiences, influence services, or support the wellbeing of others.
If you know someone whose contribution has made a lasting impact through their commitment, enthusiasm, and generosity, tell us their story and help us celebrate their achievements.
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Excellence Awards 2026_Slider 3
Excellence Awards 2026_Slider
Excellence Awards 2026_Slider 2
The NHSGGC staff Excellence Awards are looking for patients, visitors and staff to nominate our dedicated teams and individuals. Our staff truly have gone above and beyond in this past year and a half and we want you to tell us about your experience of outstanding care.
These prestigious awards are for individual members of staff, teams, or projects that have identified ways to deliver improvements that benefit patients and service uses, colleagues, or NHSGGC.
Staff, patients and visitors can all nominate in these awards. We want you to tell us about the dedicated teams and individuals who go to extraordinary lengths to provide exceptional care for people who use our health services. The award ceremony will take place Friday 30 October 2026.
But we’re not just looking to celebrate the tremendous efforts of our staff. We are also looking for services that staff have moulded to patients’ needs, or projects that have transformed the way we work.
There are nine categories in our Excellence Awards, so there is a category to fit every project, programme, or an outstanding member of staff.
Our awards are a brilliant opportunity to shine a light on someone you know, who goes above and beyond the call of duty, to provide exceptional care and support.
We know our staff provide incredible patient care but we need you to tell us your stories.
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