Here’s the list of award winners
Gary Porter West Midlands Content Editor for StokeOnTrentLive
15:00, 30 May 2026
Pictured, left-right, are Gemma Law, Liz Lockett, Kerry Harrington, Rebecca Hunter, and Karen Powner.
Hardworking and dedicated nurses who “make an extraordinary difference every day” have been recognised. Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust’s (MPFT) held a special celebration event to honour its colleagues.
The ‘Celebrating Nursing Event’ brought together nurses from across the trust to acknowledge outstanding dedication, skill and compassion with a series of awards and honours. The event was opened by Liz Lockett, who reflected on her role as MPFT’s Chief Nurse and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, while Dr Ian Turner, Director of Nursing, Quality and Infection, Prevention and Control highlighted some of the excellent work that has taken place within MPFT over the past year, celebrating the nursing profession.
Chosen by their fellow nursing colleagues through heartfelt nominations, the following awards were presented:
Breeze Award – Sharon Madden, Ward ManagerChief Nurse Recognition – Rebecca Miles, Integrated Discharge Hub Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Hospital Discharge Link WorkerEnhancing Staff Experience – Suzanne Andrews, Service Manager and Clinical LeadInnovation in Practice – PIRT Care Home Admission ProjectOutstanding Infection Prevention and Control – Inclusion TeamNightingale Award – Megan Deakin, Advanced Clinical PractitionerNurse of the Year – William Hogg, Registered Nursing AssociateOutstanding Contribution to Nursing Care – Maureen Mulloy, Healthcare Support WorkerOutstanding Support in Practice – Ruby Lowe, Community Staff NursePlacement of the Year – Bromley Ward, St George’s Hospital
In addition, Chief Nurse Commendation Awards were presented to Gemma Law, CAMHS Early Years’ Service Practitioner; Kerry Harrington, Healthcare Support Worker; Rebecca Hunter, Community Matron; and Samantha Charlesworth, Community Staff Nurse. This award recognises nursing colleagues who have demonstrated exceptional actions in extraordinary circumstances.
The latest cohort of MPFT nurses to be selected as Queen’s Nurses were formally presented with their Queen’s Nursing Institute certificates. The Queen’s Nurse programme recognises excellence and leadership in nursing practice, uniting community nurses, supporting their professional development and helping them to provide exceptional care for patients in the community.
There was also a celebration of MPFT’s longest serving nurses, who have amassed 40 years of NHS service. Chief Executive Neil Carr thanked them for their dedication to MPFT and the NHS while reflecting upon his own extensive career.
Liz Lockett said: “It’s really important that we take time to recognise our nursing family, whose skill, compassion, dedication and innovation make an extraordinary difference every day. The Trust’s Celebrating Nursing Awards are held in line with International Nurses Day celebrations and is our way of saying thank you for the outstanding care our nurses provide to our patients and the communities we serve.
“We’re only able to give awards to a small number of our nursing colleagues, but I am so proud of the work that our nurses constantly deliver, and I’d like to say a big thank you to each and every one of them.”
Dr Ian Turner added: “It was a pleasure to join colleagues to celebrate the nursing profession and to recognise their care, compassion and professionalism through our awards giving. As with previous years, we received a high number of nominations from a vast range of services throughout the Trust; colleagues from physical health, mental health, learning disability and children’s services, both locally and nationally.
“All of the nominations demonstrated outstanding practice and some remarkable examples of high quality and innovative work, all worthy of recognition. It is humbling to see the determined efforts of our staff and the way teams show such dedication and enthusiasm for their work.”
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