RCN Wales announces its Nurse of the Year 2023

Tara Rees was named RCN Wales Nurse of the Year at its 10th annual awards ceremony, held at City Hall Cardiff last night.

This year’s award sponsor, Velindre University NHS Trust, announced Tara as the overall winner of the night, with competition from 16 other category winners. She was recognised for her outstanding contribution to patient care and service development.

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.

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.”

RCN Wales Nurse of the Year 2023, Tara Rees, said:
‘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.

ENDS.

Notes to Editors 

The RCN in Wales Nurse of the Year Awards recognise innovation and excellence in practice, acknowledging the outstanding efforts, commitment and achievements made by the whole of the nursing community across Wales. Nominated nurses, midwives, nursing students and health care support workers have demonstrated a passion for their profession and exemplify distinction in care, leadership, service and innovation.

The ceremony was hosted by television and radio presenter Jason Mohammad at Cardiff’s City Hall. The event included speeches from Pat Cullen, RCN Chief Executive and General Secretary; Steve Watson, RCN Wales Board Vice Chair; and Helen Whyley, RCN Wales Director. There was a total of 18 categories, including a Lifetime Achievement Award and the Overall Wales Nurse of the Year Award, commending a range of nursing practice in Wales.

Award finalists:

Wales Nurse of the Year Award
Winner: Tara Rees

Advance and Specialist Nursing Award
Winner: Tara Rees
Runner up: Tricia Roberts

Care of the Older Person Award
Winner: Amanda Whent
Runner up: Samantha Nooradeen

Chief Nursing Officer for Wales Award
Winner: Sarah Morris
Runner up: Dr Augusta Stafford-Umughele

Children and Midwifery Award
Winner: Cara Moruzzi
Runner up: Rebekah Murphy

Community Nursing Award
Winner: Louise Hymers
Runners up: Sian Lewis and Bianca Oakley

Health Care Support Worker Award
Winner: Heather Fleming
Runner up: Kelly Brown

Improving Individual and Population Health Award
Winner: Sharon Webber
Runner up: Tracy Evans

Innovation and Digitalisation in Nursing Award
Winner: Mandie Welch
Runner up: Catherine Cawte

Learning Disabilities and Mental Health Award
Winners: Judith Wall and Bethan Williams
Runner up: Melanie Rix-Taylor

Lifetime Achievement Award
Winner: Jill Paterson

Nurse Education Award
Winner: Nelson Selvaraj
Runner up: Diana De

Nursing Student Award
Winner: Aston Nicholls
Runner up: Nia Sheehan

Primary Care Nursing Award
Winner: Andrea Dorrington
Runner up: Natalie Janes

Registered Nurse (Adult) Award
Winner: Judith Jamieson
Runner Up: Assunta Crothers

Supporting Education and Learning in Practice Award
Winners: Hayley Compton and Carla Evans
Runner up: Laura Little

Supporting Improvement Through Research Award
Winner: Dr Paul Gill
Runner up: Professor Judith Carrier

Suzanne Goodall Paediatric Palliative Care Nursing Award
Winner: Kerri Rowe
Runners up: Nicole Crimmings and Roisin Hollinger

Award sponsors:

• Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
• Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
• BMA Cymru Wales
• Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
• Cardiff University
• Chief Nursing Officer for Wales, Welsh Government
• Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
• Fieldbay
• Frontier Medical Group
• Health Education and Improvement Wales
• Hywel Dda University Health Board
• Powys Teaching Health Board
• Public Health Wales
• School of Medical and Health Sciences, Bangor University
• Swansea Bay University Health Board 
• Tŷ Hafan Children’s Hospice
• University of South Wales 
• University of Wales Trinity Saint David
• Velindre University NHS Trust
• Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust
• Welsh Health Specialised Services (WHSSC)


The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world with over half a million members in the UK, including around 29,500 members in Wales.

For more information, contact the RCN Wales press office at 02920 680 769 or email mediawales@rcn.org.uk