Excellence Awards 2025

This award recognises staff who provide and contribute towards incredible patient care improving everyday practices across NHSGGC.

Nominees

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. 

Charley Mcdowall – Transition clinic within Inverclyde CAMHS

Charley is a specialist mental health nurse working in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service in Inverclyde. She spearheaded the development of a dedicated ‘transition’ clinic for older adolescents after identifying a gap in care for this group. Previously, those aged 17 or over who were waiting for assessment and/or treatment were frequently transition to adult services when they turned 18. The new clinic provides immediate access, assessment and treatment for young people aged 17 years and 6 months and older. 

This initiative has provided timely access to care and treatment for mental health concerns, and has facilitated further assessments and exploration of diagnoses such as autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, as well as cognitive difficulties. The results have been overwhelmingly positive, including improved mental health outcomes for young people, prevention of deterioration, timely neurodevelopmental diagnoses and treatment, and a reduction in referrals to adult mental health services.  

Hannah Grant, Advanced Practice Dietetic Led Coeliac Service NHSGGC 

Hannah has successfully transitioned the Coeliac Disease service from a consultant-led to a Dietetic Led Coeliac Service, marking a significant advancement in patient care. This initiative addresses the lifelong management of Coeliac Disease, which requires the strict elimination of gluten from the diet. Over the past two years, Hannah has implemented a streamlined process ensuring timely access to diagnosis and dietary interventions for all patients, significantly reducing over 300 unnecessary biopsies.  

The service prioritises patient-centred care by allowing dietitians to manage all referrals from primary and secondary care, ensuring that medical colleagues can focus on the most critical cases. This innovative model not only enhances patient care but also optimises resource utilisation within the healthcare system.  

What makes this service truly special is its status as the first dietitian-led clinical pathway in adult gastroenterology at scale. Hannah’s evidence-based approach has revolutionised the treatment of Coeliac Disease, demonstrating the essential role of dietitians in gastrointestinal management and improving patient outcomes through dietary changes. 

QEUH Fetal-Genetics Group  

The aim of the Fetal-Genetics Group team at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital was to change the clinical 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. When a routine ultrasound scan shows some fetal anomalies that may be due to a genetic cause, this can result in a period of worry and distress for the patient/couple until more information is available, so time is of the essence to either reassure the patient/couple or equip them with the appropriate information to help them make informed choices about their pregnancy and/or postnatal care. 

The Fetal-Genetics Group combines the skills of Consultant Obstetricians, Specialist Midwives, Consultant Geneticists, Genetic Counsellors and Clinical Scientists to provide a truly multi-disciplinary approach that allows the most appropriate support and information and any genetic testing to be made available to this group of patients at the earliest opportunity and throughout their pregnancy and beyond. 

Scottish Epilepsy Register 

The Scottish Epilepsy Register has been developed under the leadership of NHSGGC Consultant Neurologist Dr Craig Heath and Johnathan Todd, Head of Information Management. Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions, with an estimated 55,000 people living with it in Scotland. The Scottish Epilepsy Register uses routine health data, collected via a clinical dashboard, to provide an alert to healthcare professionals following a key adverse event. Its main aim is to reduce excessive mortality and morbidity in epilepsy and to improve access to care and outcomes in people living with the condition.  

As part of the project, key pieces of clinical information are collected from other health boards which will be used to create a Scottish National Audit Programme for Epilepsy, allowing trends and outcomes to be tracked and monitored. Once fully established, the methodology could be applied to other chronic neurological diseases to improve disease recognition and management. 

This award commends staff who have implemented an initiative to improve the health and wellbeing of patients, the public and/or staff.

Nominees

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. 

The result has been a whole system approach bringing better accessibility for patients for whom English is not their first language and greater engagement with healthcare services, and as well as enhancing the patient experience the initiative has also strengthened the clinical team. 

Gillian Harvey, Health Improvement Lead (Acute)  

Gillian has been instrumental in addressing health inequalities through her leadership of the Support and Information Services (SIS) team at NHSGGC hospitals. She spearheaded crucial initiatives like the Emergency Food on Discharge program, ensuring that no patient leaves the hospital without food. These programs are now core services, sustained despite budget constraints. 

Gillian also developed the Home Energy Crisis Response Service, which helps patients safely return to warm homes—a vital component in preventing delayed discharges. Her team actively engages with vulnerable populations, offering financial advice and support to those facing poverty. In 2023-24, SIS facilitated 3,762 referrals to financial inclusion services, resulting in over £4.5 million in financial gains for patients.  

Gillian’s exceptional leadership has fostered a motivated SIS team that provides holistic support, ensuring that patients receive the assistance they need while navigating the challenges of the cost of living. Her commitment to tackling health inequalities is both impactful and inspiring, making her a deserving nominee for this award. 

The Apple Clinic: prehab into rehab – Clyde 

The Apple Clinic is a multidisciplinary team covering the Clyde sector, with the shared aim of getting patients in the best physical and mental health before, during and after their surgery. The team provides prehabilitation-into-rehabilitation and have been running the clinic for nearly 10 years and have seen between 500-600 patients. They assess each surgical patient and refer them for exercise and physical activity at either their own exercise classes, or to community partners, local charities or private services.  

Physiotherapists Mhairi and Louise Crookston run the Inverclyde Royal Hospital Apple Clinic. They run weekly group circuit classes for patients awaiting surgery, which family members can join to provide support. The clinic has been transforming the surgical department by engaging nurses and Allied Health Professionals trained in exercise, health advice and cognitive behavioural therapy, all of which has reduced complications, shortened hospital stays and improved post-surgical recovery for patients.  

This award is for staff who have increased efficiencies taking a new approach to work making better use of resources.

Nominees

North West Primary Care – 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. 

NHSGGC Biorepository

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Biorepository is the first in the UK to achieve accreditation to ISO20387:2018, the new biobanking standard. It was awarded this by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), the UK’s national accreditation body, becoming only the eight biobank in the world to achieve this. There have been many improvements to the Biorepository’s quality processes and this has improved the service it provides to academic and commercial researchers, supporting their world leading medical research with access to surplus diagnosis tissue and blood.   

Accreditation against an ISO standard is a key indicator of high-quality processes and technical competence in the handling and storage of tissues used for research activities. 

The Biorepository, based on the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus, stores and provides access to a wide range of human tissue for use in valuable medical research into a range of diseases.   

Dry Mouth/Sjogrens Multi-disciplinary clinic at Glasgow Dental Hospital 

The clinic was set up in 2024 to provide a one-stop service for patients with symptoms of Sjogrens disease. Sjogrens is an autoimmune disorder with an increased lifetime risk of lymphoma development, and its diagnosis involves a range of investigations previously undertaken over three appointments. 

By establishing the clinic – the first of its kind in Scotland – Consultants in Oral Medicine and Dental Radiology have enabled all the necessary investigations to be undertaken in a single appointment, allowing patients with negative results to be discharged to their general dental practitioner after one visit and patients with confirmed Sjogrens to have their cases managed more efficiently. 

In the first six months of operation, this new approach saw 30% of patients seen by the clinic discharged after their initial visit, saving around 60 future appointments with Dental Radiology and Oral Medicine. The effect of patient experience has been positive too, and in local questionnaires, every patient has appreciated this more streamlined approach. 

This award recognises the often unseen work of our staff who help make NHSGGC a better workplace, improving the culture and supporting colleagues.

Nominees

GGC 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.  

Their commitment to education governance and service improvement significantly contributes to the overall wellbeing and professional growth within NHSGGC. 

Internationally Educated Nurses Oversight Group  

The Internationally Educated Nurses Oversight Group aimed to enhance recruitment, professional governance, and pastoral care for Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) joining NHSGGC. By facilitating discussions among multi-disciplinary professionals, the group streamlined support for IENs addressing key concerns like visa processes, accommodation, and education. Members included Human Resources, Senior Nursing Managers, and Practice Education, ensuring collaborative efforts to foster a positive working environment and address IENs’ needs.  

The group’s success is reflected in several impactful initiatives: the creation of a welcoming NHSGGC handbook, improved collaboration with Higher Education Institutions for upskilling, regular staff presentations to address IEN challenges, and the introduction of a ‘My Nurses Life’ workbook. Additionally, a dedicated website for IENs was launched, alongside the first-ever ‘Welcome to the UK Workforce’ workshops held in Scotland.  

In 2023-24, NHSGGC became the leading board in Scotland for employing IENs, successfully adapting strategies based on feedback from the previous cohort. This comprehensive approach not only enhanced integration but also cultivated a culturally aware and psychologically safe environment for IENs. 

Stacey Kavanagh – Nurse Team Lead, South alcohol and drug delivery service in Pollok  

Stacey is a manager who has created a workplace that is not only comfortable but also supportive and inclusive for everyone. She consistently looks out for her colleagues, offering guidance, encouragement, and a listening ear, and has created a team where everyone feels valued.  

She ensures that all work progresses smoothly, addressing challenges proactively and stepping in to help when difficulties arise, while she actively encourages and supports team members in their professional growth, providing mentorship and opportunities to learn and advance. 

This approach has fostered a positive, inclusive and efficient work environment and ensures her team feels supported, motivated, and well-equipped to handle both day-to-day tasks and challenging situations. 

As a result, the team has seen improved efficiency and productivity, while there has been a noticeable improvement in staff retention. Numerous team members have expressed their appreciation for Stacey’s leadership, approachability, support and commitment to fairness, and have noted an increase in job satisfaction as a result. 

Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Referrals Database (Rob) 

The aim of the project was to redesign the NHSGGC database and governance process for NMC referrals, enhancing data protection and confidentiality while improving communication channels. Identifying risks in the previous system, Michelle Murray-Moore undertook training to explore innovative IT solutions that would streamline information sharing within the NMC referral process. Collaborating with Tracy Donaldson, they developed a user-friendly database with effective reporting functionalities and key document templates.  

The success of the new system has been recognised by senior nursing and midwifery managers and the NMC Regulatory Adviser, highlighting several benefits: a robust governance process, a clear single point of contact, user-friendliness, and flexibility for future adaptations.  

This initiative has remarkably improved NMC referral management, fostering transparency and maintaining confidentiality for staff under investigation. It has significantly enhanced efficiency, enabling the NHSGGC team to respond promptly to NMC and service colleague requests and freeing up resources for other important workstreams within the Directorate. This impactful achievement exemplifies innovation and dedication to excellence in healthcare governance. 

This award recognises staff who have travelled overseas to provide healthcare and/or education in developing countries or countries in crisis.

Nominees

Breast cancer care in Gaza 

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.   

Professor Sameer Zuberi – Paediatric Neurosciences Unit, Royal Hospital for Children  

Professor Zuberi is a committed advocate for epilepsy care in children across at a national, European and global level. He is an active participant in international research, and his work has helped in improving the diagnosis, treatment and care of children with epilepsy, improving their quality of life and allowing them to achieve their potential in life, education and future career.  

He makes regular use of vCreate, a technology by which parents send video clips to clinicians who can advise, in real time, on the significance of an event that worries parents and also helping make a diagnosis in difficult cases of epilepsy 

He has chaired the European Paediatric Neurology Association and played an important role in the twinning of the Royal Hospital for Children with the Children’s Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. He had helped to foster links with and training and support for neurologists in Ukraine as well as supporting efforts to train and educate colleagues working in Palestine and Gaza. 

Dr Mark McAuley GP Partner Regent Gardens Medical Practice Kirkintilloch, Assistant Director of General Practice for West of Scotland (NHS Education Scotland)  

Dr McAuley, a partner at Regent Gardens Medical Practice for over 25 years, and Assistant Director of General Practice for West of Scotland (NHS Education Scotland), has demonstrated exceptional commitment to both his local community and global health initiatives.  

He has volunteered with Freedom from Torture for over 11 years, where he provides medicolegal assessments for survivors of torture, ensuring their human rights are upheld through rehabilitation support. His extensive training allows him to document the physical and psychological effects of torture, aiding asylum seekers and refugees in rebuilding their lives.  

In addition, he has contributed to the development of primary care in India through his ongoing partnership with CMC Vellore. He conducted a successful training workshop in October 2022, which spurred further engagement and recognition at international conferences. As a PRIME tutor, he has also visited Albania multiple times to enhance family medicine training.  

His selfless dedication to these global initiatives while providing exemplary care to his local patients makes him a deserving nominee.  

This award recognises nurse(s) who demonstrate the best qualities of patient care and the ethos of nursing.

Nominees

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. 

Susan Hunt, Professional Nurse Lead GPN/ANP  

Susan was closely involved in efforts to enhance excellence in care within NHSGGC by supporting trainee Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs) in developing the knowledge, skills and competencies required for advanced practice. In collaboration with NHSGGC Advanced Practice corporate team and Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU), she developed and delivered a hugely successful work-based Masters-level learning module to support trainee ANPs to reach the level of extended practice expected of them.  

The module is facilitated by Susan and trainees are given a safe space to discuss individual clinical cases which allows for open discussion and joint learning, as well as facilitating peer support and engagement. Her ability to engage trainees on a personal level helped the trainees navigate the complexities of their new roles, providing reassurance and guidance, and ensuring they felt valued and supported.  

Around 120 staff have competed this module and have gone onto work as ANPs. The result is a stronger, more skilled ANP workforce, improving patient care and making a lasting difference in primary and community healthcare services. 

Tissue Viability Team (Dykebar)  

The Tissue Viability Nursing Team at NHSGGC, a cohesive group of 10 nurses, is dedicated to supporting patients with complex wounds, receiving up to 850 referrals monthly. Renowned for their expertise, this team implements innovative, person-centred initiatives that enhance care while effectively using resources.  

One key initiative focused on reducing unnecessary documentation, which previously consumed up to three hours per shift. They developed an ABCD system that emphaises meaningful record-keeping and effective communication. Additionally, they transformed patient repositioning practices by moving away from ritualistic two-hour checks, allowing for more personalised care that improves patient comfort and nursing efficiency. This approach, supported by evidence from case reviews and focus groups, has led to significant time savings and better patient outcomes.  

The team enhances education through engaging workshops, utilising games such as wound care bingo and interactive quizzes to facilitate learning. Their efforts have gained international recognition, influencing wound care practices across the UK and beyond, and have been published in peer-reviewed journals, showcasing their commitment to advancing wound care.  

Recognising people who go the extra mile contributing tirelessly and providing outstanding help and support for the benefit of others.

Nominees

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.  

The Growing Spaces Garden Volunteers – Gartnavel  

The value of greenspace to our health and wellbeing is well documented, and the Garden Volunteer team are central to NHSGGC’s efforts to offer multi-purpose spaces in nature, where patients, staff and the general public can find a place to relax, meet friends or simply have a moment of peace.  

The volunteers work throughout the year to maintain the garden spaces at Gartnavel, and thanks to their skills and foresight, they have developed a donation stall on which are offered plants for visitors and participants who use the gardens. This helps sustain the current infrastructure as the garden has no allocated budget. Surplus produce and cut flowers are shared with patients and staff throughout the campus. 

They are the welcoming face of our Growing Spaces and work with a range of third sector organisations, as well as staff and patient groups, to share and promote the benefits of our greenspaces. They are always looking to improve their work and will happily act on suggestions, attracting positive feedback from those who visit the gardens. 

Queen Elizabeth University Hospital – Volunteer Welcome Guides (10-year anniversary)  

When the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital opened to the public in spring 2015, a team of 100 volunteers were recruited to be the friendly faces people needed when arriving at one of the largest acute hospital campuses in Europe. Ten years later, 30 of those 100 people are still actively serving as welcome guides, marking a decade of commitment.  

The volunteers come from a diverse range of backgrounds and include former patients, NHS employees and aspiring medical students, as well as a 91-year-old participant which is truly inspiring. This long-term dedication and diverse experience undoubtedly contribute significantly to the welcoming and supportive atmosphere.  

The welcome guides play a vital role in supporting patients, families and visitors and helping to alleviate stress. By dedicating on average 150 hours per week, they ensure a positive experience for those entering the hospital and help to guide individuals to their desired destinations.