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Pioneering NHS24 nurse announced as RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year 2026
Nicola Braid, a senior learning disability nurse and exceptional leader at NHS24, has been named RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year 2026.
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Providing strong clinical and strategic leadership, ensuring care is safe, accessible, and genuinely person-centred while actively reducing health inequalities, Nicola’s key strength is meaningful co-production, leading focus groups with people with learning disabilities and families to ensure service improvements are grounded in lived experience.
Nicola pioneered the proactive identification of individuals with additional care needs, enabling timely reasonable adjustments and more compassionate support. She has driven significant improvements in workforce education, with 90% of staff reporting increased confidence following her learning disability training. Nicola has also improved digital accessibility and information through enhancements to NHS Inform and inclusive resources.
Her evidence-based, inclusive leadership has delivered measurable improvements in outcomes, culture, and equity across NHS 24 and NHS Scotland.
Scotland’s nurse of the year was selected from the registered nurse winners of the other categories announced on the night. Nicola received the Learning Disability Nursing Award, sponsored by The Open University, before being announced as Scotland’s overall Nurse of the Year.
Nicola was presented with the award by the RCN’s General Secretary & Chief Executive, Nicola Ranger, RCN Scotland Board Chair, Julie Ross, and RCN Scotland Executive Director, Colin Poolman.
Nicola Ranger said: “As a digital health and care service, NHS24’s nursing staff are not as visible as those in other areas of the health and care service, but their impact is equally as measurable. Nicola is a shining example of how nursing delivers care for people when they need it most. I’m delighted to be in Scotland again to witness the amazing showcase of the innovative and impactful nursing practice being delivered here. For me, it is a reminder that nursing is such a diverse and rewarding career. I would like to congratulate again all the winners, runners up and highly commended. You are all an inspiration.”
RCN Scotland Executive Director, Colin Poolman thanked all the nominees for the nursing care they and their colleagues deliver day in and day out to the people of Scotland, often in extremely challenging circumstances. He said: “A hearty round of applause to Nicola on her well-deserved award. NHS24 provides a vital service to the people of Scotland, and Nicola is at the forefront of ensuring that people with learning disabilities have equitable access to that service. The judges were inspired by her leadership to ensure she continues to champion the voice of the people she cares for. Her nomination stood out as exemplifying the very best of nursing in Scotland and we are proud to call Nicola our 2026 Nurse of the Year”.
Julie Ross, RCN Scotland Board Chair added: “Nicola is truly inspiring and testament to the core values of nursing. It is great to celebrate digital nursing, a too often misunderstood and undervalued area of nursing, and she is a true advocate of this essential area of practice.
“Now in its fourth year, our 2026 awards have again showcased some of the #BestOfNursing in Scotland. Nursing, at some point, is a part of everyone’s lives. The quality of nursing practice evidenced by all our finalists shows that the people of Scotland continue to receive care to the level they deserve, by great nursing staff and teams.”
On becoming RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year 2026, Nicola said: “It is an incredible surprise and honour to be named Nurse of the Year. I came into learning disability nursing to make a difference and I hope that winning this award helps raise the profile of the specialty and the positive impact we have every single day.”
The full list of winners and finalists are:
| Category (Visit our awards page to find out more about our finalists) |
Finalists |
|
Adult Nursing Award |
Winner - Keri-Ann Van-Nuil, Senior Charge Nurse, Stroke, Rehab and Frailty, NHS Dumfries and Galloway |
| Care Home Nursing Award |
Winner - Lori Fisher, Service Quality Manager, BCG Cares Runner up - Royston Care Home Nursing Team, Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership Highly commended - Eileen Welch, Home Manager, Burnlea House, Pepperwood Care |
| Children's Nursing and Midwifery Award |
Winner - Fife School Nursing Service, NHS Fife / Fife Health & Social Care Partnership |
| Clinical Leadership Award Sponsored by Anderson Strathern |
Winner - Mike Spall-Hancy, Advanced Nurse Practitioner (Sexual Health & HIV), Chalmers Centre, NHS Lothian |
| Inspiring Excellence - Nursing Innovation and Research Award Sponsored by Healthcare Improvement Scotland |
Winner - Daisy Sandeman, Clinical Nurse Manager – Advanced Practice, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian |
| Learning Disability Nursing Award Sponsored by The Open University |
Winner - Nicola Braid, Senior Nurse for Learning Disabilities, NHS 24 |
| Learning in Practice Award Sponsored by NHS Golden Jubilee |
Winner - Laura Reid, Lead Practice Educator NHS Grampian and Professional Lead for North of Scotland NMAHP International Recruitment, Practice Education and Development Teams, NHS Grampian |
| Mental Health Nursing Award |
Winner - Mental Health Unscheduled Care Assessment Hub, Woodland View Hospital, NHS Ayrshire & Arran |
Nursing Student of the Year Sponsored by Glasgow Caledonian University |
Winner - Connall Green, Nursing Student, Glasgow Caledonian University |
| Nursing Support Worker of the Year |
Winner - Lynn Melville, Health Care Support Worker, Airdrie Health Visiting Team, NHS Lanarkshire |
| Nursing Team of the Year |
Winner - 215 (Sc) Multirole Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Service, UK Ministry of Defence |
| People's Choice Award Sponsored by The Sunday Post |
Winner - Emma-Jane Trayner, Remote Consultation Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Scottish Ambulance Service (Stornoway) |
|
Chief Nursing Officer for Scotland Award for Excellence |
Winner -Professor Anne Whittaker, clinical academic in applied substance use and mental health research and a Professor of Nursing in the Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions (NMAHP) Research Unit at the University of Stirling |
Thanks to all our sponsors of our awards. With their support, we were able to go all out and truly celebrate all our finalists and their contribution to the health and care of the people of Scotland.
#BestOfNursing
