Nurse of the Year Award Winners 2023

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Tara Rees is named RCN Wales Nurse of the Year 2023!

Tara, a Lead Nurse Practitioner for the hepatology service at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and clinical expert in her field, has dedicated her career to creating new services for those with specialist needs. She recently set up a hepatocellular carcinoma service for patients with end-of-stage liver disease. The new service is a major step for patients who will have access to a key worker for the first time. 
 
This achievement followed Tara’s establishment of the first community clinic in Wales to treat viral hepatitis C patients, and her creation of the hepatology clinical nurse specialist role. She has also led on national accreditation for the hepatology service and the lead nurse for the All-Wales Liver Disease Delivery Plan. 
 
When presented with her Nurse of the Year Award 2023 Tara addressed the audience on the night saying:
 
“‘I am immensely proud and this is a highlight in my nursing career. It is a true honour and one I take respectfully.  I will use the platform to highlight nursing in liver disease as this is usually a speciality hidden under the gastroenterology umbrella.  It is challenging and very rewarding and I am passionate about motivating others and will encourage nurses to showcase their excellent work.  I would like to be a role model and ambassador and will hopefully encourage people into the nursing profession.”
 
Commenting on Tara’s win, RCN Wales Director, Helen Whyley, said: 
 
“Tara is an amazing nurse who has gone above and beyond to improve the patient experience. She is a very worthy winner of the RCN Wales Nurse of the Year Award.
"I’d also like to extend my congratulations to all the award winners and shortlisted nominees who have demonstrated their passion for the nursing profession to deliver exceptional care to the people of Wales at a time when they are increasingly under pressure. Whether in our communities, on wards, in clinics, classrooms or in the board room, we saw just how committed these finalists are in upholding the highest standards of professional practice.”