Two Advanced Nurse Practitioners from NHS Lothian won prestigious awards at the RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards ceremony yesterday (Wednesday 21 June 2023).
Fiona Bruce, Paediatric Haematology/Oncology Advanced Nurse Practitioner, won Scotland’s People’s Choice Award and was nominated by the public for her work with children with cancer at home and in Africa.
Fiona works at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and devotes time to volunteering to give vital care to young cancer patients in Ghana.
Along with Edinburgh oncologist Dr Emma Johnson, and other nursing colleagues, they have helped Ghanian child cancer medics set up what has become a leading children’s unit in Africa.
The Edinburgh team are part of a global link of child oncology medics who work through UK charity World Child Cancer.
Melissa Rowlands, Dementia Advanced Nurse Practitioner at St John’s Hospital, developed the role of the ANP in dementia care to enhance patient care, support diagnosis and help design a service which seeks to prevent admission and reduce readmission to hospital for people with dementia in care homes.
By developing nurse led clinics, Melissa supports West Lothian’s contribution to national HEAT targets by reducing waiting times for diagnosis. She adopts a flexible approach to ensure that the service works across older people’s health services as well as supporting other agencies.
Within a year of establishing the service, waiting times had halved, allowing the post diagnostic support teams to engage more quickly with patients. Melissa’s approach is already being shared across Scotland and she is now supporting ANPs in other areas to implement her initiative.
Well done, Fiona and Melissa! Fantastic achievements.
Congratulations also to finalists Vivienne Wilson, Senior Research Nurse, shortlisted for Inspiring Excellence – Nursing Innovation and Research Award, Care When It Counts team, Musselburgh Primary Care Centre, shortlisted for the Team Learning In Practice Award, and Judith Watson, former Neonatal Practitioner at the RHCYP (now working as a Diana Children’s Nurse).
For more information, please visit RCN Scotland.
