The compassion, dedication and achievements of NHS Lanarkshire staff and volunteers have been celebrated at a special ceremony recognising the people who make a difference to patients, families and communities every day.
The NHS Lanarkshire Staff Awards 2026, held on Wednesday 7 October, brought colleagues together to honour exceptional care, innovation and teamwork across the organisation.
Hosted by entertainer Edward Reid, with performances from the SoundSational Choir and NHS Lanarkshire Staff Orchestra, the ceremony shared moving stories of colleagues whose work reflects the commitment of staff throughout Lanarkshire.
The event was only possible thanks to the generosity of sponsors: NHS Credit Union, GMB, Unite, Unison, Salus and Bespoke Touches.
Louise Long, Chief Executive of NHS Lanarkshire, said: “This was a very special evening and a chance to give our staff and volunteers the recognition they so richly deserve. Hearing the stories behind these awards was both moving and inspiring, and left me feeling enormously proud of the people who work across NHS Lanarkshire.
“Our finalists showed what it means to put people at the heart of care. We heard about colleagues making treatment more accessible, helping families through some of the hardest moments of their lives and working together to find better ways of delivering our services. Each story demonstrated how someone’s determination to make a difference can have an impact far beyond their own role.
“We know our services face significant demands, and I see the effort colleagues make every day to support patients and one another. Taking time to recognise that work matters. These awards are an opportunity to say thank you and to share ideas and achievements that can inspire others across the organisation.
“I congratulate every winner and finalist, and everyone who was nominated. I also want to thank the colleagues, whose work may not have featured at the ceremony this year, but is essential to the care we provide. Your skill, commitment and compassion make a real difference to people across Lanarkshire, and they are deeply valued.”
The Excellence in Care and Compassion Award went to the Neonatal, Special Care and Transitional Care Team for combining clinical expertise with kindness and ensuring parents feel informed, supported and involved in their baby’s care.
Diane Kane won the Innovation and Improvement Award for her work on the Tertiary Eating Disorder Specialist Service Autism Accreditation. Her leadership has helped remove barriers to treatment and make the service more accessible and inclusive for autistic and neurodivergent patients.
Two teams were named joint winners of Outstanding Team Collaboration Clinical after receiving identical judging scores. The Clydesdale Health Visiting Team was recognised for bringing two teams together and improving child health assessments across a large rural area. The Neurodevelopmental Service’s Children and Young People School Team was honoured for its collaborative, school-based assessments, increasing capacity and helping children and families access support sooner.
The Outstanding Team Collaboration Non-Clinical Award recognised four Domestic Services teams: the Monklands Hospital Day-Shift Team; the Monday-to-Wednesday Night-Shift Domestic Team at Monklands; the Domestic Services Supervisory Team at University Hospital Monklands; and the Community Domestic Supervisors covering Airdrie, Coatbridge, Cumbernauld and Clydesdale. Separately nominated and awarded identical scores, they were grouped together within their category. Their teamwork helps maintain safe, clean healthcare environments, including during outbreaks and other urgent situations.
Victoria McPhee, a registered nurse on Ward 8 at University Hospital Hairmyres, received the Unsung Hero Clinical Award. Alongside mentoring students and newly qualified colleagues, she has shown exceptional compassion, including returning on her day off so an end-of-life patient would not face their final hours alone.
Hugh Findlay, a Pharmacy Storekeeper at University Hospital Monklands, won Unsung Hero Non-Clinical for his support for pharmacy colleagues, links with the portering service and encouraging mentorship of Project SEARCH participants entering the workplace.
The Volunteer Contribution Award went to Iain Young, a Pastoral Care Volunteer at University Hospital Hairmyres, who draws on his own experience of illness and recovery from a lower-leg amputation to offer hope and encouragement to patients.
Staff also chose the winner of the first People’s Choice Award. Dr Mike Coates, Clinical Director of NHS Lanarkshire’s Out of Hours service, was recognised for his kindness and inclusive leadership, including using Makaton to help autistic and non-verbal patients feel understood and supported.
Professor Robin Munro received the William Cullen Prize, presented by Dr Alison Falconer from the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The award recognised his exceptional contribution to medical education over more than 20 years, supporting generations of doctors and helping expand undergraduate education across NHS Lanarkshire.
Denise Bryce and Wendy Morrison received the Chief Executive’s Award for helping fulfil an end-of-life patient’s wish to marry their partner. They brought colleagues together to make the wedding possible in hospital, protecting the patient’s dignity and creating a precious memory for their loved ones.
The Chair’s Award went to the Frailty Assessment Unit at University Hospital Wishaw. The team established a new service during a demanding period, bringing professions and partner agencies together to improve decisions, avoid unnecessarily long hospital stays and help older people return home safely.
Katharina Kasper, Chair of NHS Lanarkshire, said: “Attending my first Staff Awards as Chair was a real privilege and an evening I will remember with enormous pride. Hearing about the difference our staff make to people’s lives was incredibly moving, and I was struck by the care, imagination and determination behind every story.
“Across Lanarkshire, we have remarkable people who give so much of themselves to support patients, families and one another. Some work directly with patients, while others provide the essential services that make that care possible. Every contribution matters, and these awards remind us how fortunate we are to have such dedicated colleagues.
“What stood out throughout the evening was the kindness shown in moments that matter most: taking time to listen, offering reassurance and finding ways to make someone’s experience of care better. Those actions can leave a lasting impression on people and their families.
“I warmly congratulate all our winners and finalists, and thank every member of staff and every volunteer across NHS Lanarkshire. You should feel immensely proud of the work you do and the difference you make to our communities.”
The evening also recognised everyone nominated and the wider workforce whose daily efforts support care across Lanarkshire.
Winners and shortlisted candidates
Excellence in Care and Compassion
- Winner: Neonatal, Special Care and Transitional Care Team
- Shortlisted: Jennifer McLaren
- Shortlisted: Sexual and Reproductive Health Team
Innovation and Improvement
- Winner: Diane Kane – Tertiary Eating Disorder Specialist Service Autism Accreditation
- Shortlisted: Dr Mihai Gherghe
- Shortlisted: Suzanne Shields
Outstanding Team Collaboration Clinical
- Joint winner: Clydesdale Health Visiting Team
- Joint winner: Neurodevelopmental Service’s Children and Young People School Team
- Shortlisted: Intensive Care Team at University Hospital Hairmyres
Outstanding Team Collaboration Non-Clinical
- Winner: Domestic Services teams: Monklands Hospital Day-Shift Team; Monday-to-Wednesday Night-Shift Domestic Team at Monklands; Domestic Services Supervisory Team at University Hospital Monklands; and Community Domestic Supervisors covering Airdrie, Coatbridge, Cumbernauld and Clydesdale
- Shortlisted: Lanarkshire Links Peer Support Worker Service
- Shortlisted: Oral and Maxillofacial Service Clinical and Admin Team
Unsung Hero Clinical
- Winner: Victoria McPhee
- Shortlisted: Samantha Clark
Unsung Hero Non-Clinical
- Winner: Hugh Findlay
- Shortlisted: Nicola O’Hare
Volunteer Contribution
- Winner: Iain Young
- Shortlisted: Charlotte Dowds
- Shortlisted: MSK Community Appointment Day Volunteers – Joy Lilley, Euan McMurtrie and John O’Meara
People’s Choice
- Winner: Dr Mike Coates
- Shortlisted: Hip Fracture Pathway Improvement Initiative, Ward 16, University Hospital Wishaw
- Shortlisted: Jacqueline Symington
