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Nursing and midwifery staff are inspiring excellence on a daily basis with innovative practice and clinical research leading to positive change for patients, service users and colleagues.

Open to registered nurses and midwives who have improved the care of people through innovation, research and transformation. This award aims to recognise those who have influenced change with a measurable impact on outcomes and/or experience.

Nurses or midwives working in research, service transformation or who have introduced innovative practice. This can be within the NHS, Higher/Further education or the independent sector.

The nominee should clearly demonstrate:

• a commitment to person-centred care, innovation and delivering high quality services that make a difference to the people receiving care
• the positive impact of their work for patients, families and colleagues
• the use of a credible evidence base and/or developing an evidence base to underpin the work for which they are being nominated
• how their work contributes to the delivery of local and national policy and strategy within health and social care.

If you have any questions or queries regarding the awards, please get in touch by emailing scotlandnurseawards@rcn.org.uk

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Stacey Boyle, Midwife, and Marianne Hay, Senior Charge Midwife, St. John's Hospital, NHS Lothian

Recognising a gap in the ability for mothers to provide skin-to-skin contact during C-sections midwives Stacey and Marianne developed an innovative product called Cozy Cuddle Scrubs (by Stacey) to improve skin-to-skin contact for newborns. This special set of scrubs includes a kangaroo-style pouch for birth partners, enabling them to provide vital skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth. This is crucial for newborn health, helping with temperature regulation, heart rate, and bonding. Cozy Cuddle Scrubs are now positioned to be widely adopted in hospitals, offering improved neonatal care and reduced stress for families, while also benefiting healthcare staff by enhancing efficiency. This innovation highlights the power of NHS-led solutions to improve patient outcomes and inspire future healthcare advancements.

CSO Early Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Glasgow
Honorary Senior Clinical Nurse Specialist - Bariatric Care (Community), NHS Lothian

Described as a pioneering nurse and researcher, Kath is dedicated to improving care for people living with severe obesity. She identified a critical gap in healthcare services while working as a District Nurse and pursued a PhD to explore the needs, experiences, and costs associated with this population. Her research has highlighted the fragmented care, stigma, and unmet needs faced by housebound patients with severe obesity. Kath鈥檚 groundbreaking research used an innovative mixed-methods study, analysing care costs and identifying gaps in weight management services, particularly for housebound patients. With her CSO Early Postdoctoral Fellowship, she established the NHS Lothian Bariatric Forum, bringing together multidisciplinary teams to improve care coordination and outcomes for this patient group. Despite limited career pathways for clinical academic nurses in Scotland, Kath remains committed to leading research, mentoring others, and advocating for nurses in research roles.

Advanced Clinical Nurse Specialists, Victoria Hospital, NHS Fife

The Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Service (RCDS) is a nurse-led initiative that aims to provide faster, smarter, and more efficient cancer diagnostics. Led by Advanced Clinical Nurse Specialists, the service focuses on person-centered care and has revolutionised traditional referral pathways by enabling nurse-led triaging, consultations, and diagnostics. This approach has reduced hospital appointments, improved patient experience, and enhanced collaboration between healthcare professionals. The RCDS has notably reduced the burden on consultants, allowing them to focus on complex cases, and has improved access to cancer care, particularly in deprived areas. The RCDS model is now part of NHS Scotland’s national cancer strategy and is recognised as a model of care for other health boards. Additionally, it supports staff training and retention through robust education programs. Overall, the service marks a transformative shift in cancer diagnostics, offering faster, more coordinated, and compassionate care.

Lead Nurse
Research and Development, NHS Grampian

Debbie Baldie is nominated due to her exceptional dedication to nursing research and evidence-based practice. In her role as Lead Nurse for Research and Practice Development at NHS Grampian, she has demonstrated extraordinary commitment and passion, setting a high standard for her colleagues. Debbie actively seeks opportunities for continuous learning and improvement, enriching the nursing team and elevating the status of nursing research. She has spearheaded various initiatives to foster a research culture in the organisation, including establishing journal clubs, mentorship programmes, and partnerships with academic institutions. Debbie's leadership has been instrumental in restarting clinical research after the COVID-19 pandemic and advocating for a national research strategy in Scotland. Her efforts have led to increased research engagement and tangible improvements in patient care. Dr Baldie's exemplary contributions showcase her as a role model and inspiration for the nursing profession.

Chief Nurse Research & Development - NHS Lothian
Honorary Professor of Practice, Queen's University Belfast

Juliet, in partnership with colleagues, has been instrumental in advancing clinical academic careers and research partnerships in various health care disciplines across Edinburgh and the Lothians. She has demonstrated leadership in project development, particularly focusing on nursing and midwifery candidates in the Lothian Clinical Academic Research Gateway Awards scheme. The scheme aims to build research capacity across clinical teams by providing funding for NHS professionals to participate in research development opportunities. Juliet's efforts have resulted in significant achievements, including a paediatric nurse successfully applying for what she described as her dream role of research nurse at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. The impact of Juliet's work extends beyond the local level, as demonstrated by the adoption of a similar format by the Chief Scientist Office for the nationwide NHS Researcher Development Fellowships scheme. Her colleagues express their gratitude and admiration for Juliet's vision and dedication to supporting clinical academic research partnerships.

Airdrie CMHT, Airdrie Health Centre, NHS Lanarkshire

Lisa’s idea for this new service grew from handing a patient a paper form and being told ‘my life is on my phone, I’ll never remember that’. The Digital Safety Plan (DSP) supports patients to use their own mobile devices to store a DSP that they create. The digital version is designed to be customised and personalised by the patient. Innovative uses of music, sensory aids, symbols, photos and pictures means that this service is fully accessible to people of all literacy levels. The DSP creates a collaborative dialogue between clinicians and patients, being trauma informed and recovery focussed. Working with colleagues across NHS Lanarkshire, Lisa used her personal time to drive this innovation forward to a point where the benefit could be presented to senior management. Lisa is proud to see the innovation delivering on both national digital health strategy outcomes and national suicide prevention strategy outcomes. Lisa would like to use the project to highlight the how mush nurses can achieve when they believe in what they do.