NHS Lothian staff have scooped two prestigious awards after the winners were announced at the O2 Academy, Edinburgh.
The Scottish Health Awards celebrate the extraordinary achievements of those individuals and teams who go above and beyond to deliver compassionate, high quality health and social care.
Lindsey Todd, Specialist Radiographer, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, picked up the Allied Health Professional Award.
Lindsey, who has worked in NHS Lothian for two decades, identified the need for greater CT Guided Lumbar Nerve Root Injection (CNRI) provision, which is a minimally invasive treatment for severe back pain, both longstanding and acute, and can offer up to six months of relief for patients who struggle on a daily basis.
Lindsey began discussions with Lead Radiographers and Neurologist colleagues to explore the reality of introducing a radiographer-led CNRI service by advancing the scope of her practice into the field.
Nine months on, the service has been incredibly successful seeing a reduction in patient waiting times, with a greater number of patients receiving the treatment every week.
Lindsey said: “It is a fantastic honour to be nominated for such an award, let alone win it. It feels amazing to be recognised for the all the hard work put in developing the CNRI service, but ultimately, I could not have done it without the support of my colleagues and mentor.
“I hope the award will not only draw attention to the service but also how important advance practice among AHPs is for delivering dedicated and efficient services for our patients.”
Dr Rosamunde Burns, Consultant Anaesthetist, won this year’s Doctor Award.
Rosamunde works hard to provide a high standard care for high-risk pregnancies and complex cases. Known as the go-to expert for obstetric anaesthetic advice, she’s often said to be “better than the textbook.”
She was awarded “Personal Tutor of the Year” by Edinburgh Medical School in 2014. In her career, she has gone from being a Managing Medical Obstetric Emergencies and Trauma (MOET) candidate to instructor, to course director, and ultimately to anaesthetic lead for the entire MOET course in 2022.
Rosamunde said: “Winning this award feels both overwhelming and truly heartwarming. It’s not just for me, but for all the incredible colleagues who took the time to teach, encourage, and support me. They’ve lifted me through the tough times with their humour and wisdom. It has been the privilege of my life to work in such skilled teams, enabling us to be alongside our patients when they need us most.
“All the nominees have contributed their link to the chain that is healthcare. Each of our links makes the chain of compassion, science and innovation stronger and more effective through time. I’m so grateful to be part of such an amazing team.”
Lindsey and Rosamunde were joined by seven other finalists from NHS Lothian including:
Dr Emma Coley – Global Citizenship Award
Tailored Talks: An Integrated Digital Care Pathway – Integrated Care Award
Graham Lawson – Outstanding Contribution to the NHS (Reader’s Choice Award)
Stacy Quinn – Support Worker Award
WISHES (Women Inclusive Sexual Health Extended Service) team, Lothian Sexual Health Services. And, Delivering Early Breastfeeding Support Project – Tackling Health Inequalities Award
Gus Harrower – Unsung Hero Award
Basil Ndikom – Young Achiever Award
Tracey Gillies, Executive Medical Director of NHS Lothian, said: “I am incredibly proud of all of our staff who made the shortlist at this year’s Scottish Health Awards. Being recognised alongside peers from across NHS Scotland is an outstanding achievement in itself.
“I would like to offer my special congratulations to both Lindsey and Rosamunde on their well-deserved awards and the recognition of their remarkable contributions.”
