The South Eastern Trust is celebrating after three of its Nurses won top accolades and four others were named runners-up at the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Nurse of the Year Awards, held last night at the Culloden Hotel.
The Brownlee-Silverdale Leadership Award was presented to the Trust’s Director of Primary Care and Older People, Clare-Marie Dickson. Clare-Marie has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership throughout her career, earning widespread recognition within the Trust and across the Region for her strategic vision and ability to lead meaningful system-wide change. Her innovative work with Primary Care Multi-Disciplinary Teams across the Trust area has had a transformative impact on patient care and service delivery.
Nurse Lead for Workforce, Education and Development, Leanne Jones, was awarded the Directors of Nursing Award for being an outstanding role model who exemplifies professionalism and unwavering passion for Nursing. Originally from a mental health background, Leanne transitioned into a corporate role with a clear focus on ensuring that Nursing staff across the Trust are supported, valued and empowered by the Nursing Workforce Team.
The Learning in Practice Award was presented to Gillian McConvey, Senior Lead Nurse for Nursing & Midwifery Assurance and Quality. Gillian led the development and successful implementation of the ‘What To Know On The Go’ (WTKOTG) initiative, launched in July 2024. The innovative programme was designed to ensure essential learning reaches frontline Nurses and Midwives by bringing training directly to clinical settings in a practical, accessible way.
The South Eastern Trust was also delighted to have four additional staff recognised as runners-up in their respective categories. Angela Berry, Ward Sister and Shirleen Porter, Deputy Ward Sister, from the Macmillan Cancer Unit at the Ulster Hospital, were named runners-up in the RCN Northern Ireland Nurse of the Year Award. Catherine Fairley, Staff Nurse, was named runner-up in the Chief Nursing Officer Rising Star Award category and Complex Care Co-Ordinator, Wanda Walsh in the Public Health Award category.
Congratulating both the winners and runners-up, the Trust’s Executive Director of Nursing, Dr David Robinson, said “I am incredibly proud of each and every one of our Nurses who were recognised at this year’s RCN Awards. These awards shine a spotlight on the dedication, innovation and leadership that our Nursing staff demonstrate every single day.
“From strategic system change to support for learning on the ground, our winners and finalists exemplify the very best of Nursing and I warmly congratulate them on this well-deserved recognition.”
