Two NHS Lothian nurses have been named as finalists in the prestigious RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards 2026, which celebrate excellence, innovation, and dedication within the nursing profession across Scotland.
Mike Spall-Hancy, Advanced Nurse Practitioner (Sexual Health & HIV), Chalmers Centre, NHS Lothian, has been shortlisted for the Clinical Leadership Award in recognition of his transformative impact on health advising and Genitourinary Medicine (GUM) nursing. Through innovative, patient centred service redesign, he modernised STI diagnosis, treatment, and partner notification by introducing digital booking systems, online results management, and pharmacy treatment vouchers, improvements that have received national recognition.
Mike also led early planning for the rollout of DoxyPEP (a pill taken after sex to help prevent sexually transmitted infections), developing efficient delivery pathways with minimal resource impact. This work led to his appointment as British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) Scotland Nurse Lead. As a clinical leader, he reintroduced nationally recognised STIF training, supported non-medical prescribers, delivered extensive education across the wider workforce, and strengthened service sustainability while improving staff satisfaction, clinical capacity, and integration with health and social care partners.
Daisy Sandeman, Clinical Nurse Manager – Advanced Practice, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian has also been named a finalist for the Inspiring Excellence, Nursing Innovation and Research Award, recognising her exceptional contribution to delirium care and advanced nursing practice in cardiothoracic surgery.
Alongside a full time clinical role, Daisy completed a PhD on postoperative delirium, which directly informed the development of a new pre operative risk assessment and support pathway. This reduced delirium rates from around 40% to 18%, significantly improving patient recovery, experience, and length of stay. In her leadership role, she champions research led innovation across nine specialist nursing teams, building a research active workforce and embedding audit and quality improvement into professional development.
Her work extends nationally and internationally and includes collaborative research that reduced postoperative atrial fibrillation rates, contributions to national delirium guidelines, and regular teaching, mentoring, and conference presentations.
Alison Macdonald, Executive Nurse Director at NHS Lothian, said: “I would like to congratulate our staff that have been shortlisted for these awards.
“Being named a finalist is a significant achievement and reflects the exceptional care, compassion, and commitment our nurses show to patients every day.
“I would like to wish them the very best of luck.”
The winners will be announced at the glittering awards ceremony on 30 April at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. Find out more about the awards at Scotland Nurse Of The Year Awards 2026 | Royal College of Nursing Scotland | Royal College of Nursing
