A medical professional from Comber was named as a winner at the Royal College of Nurse of the Year awards held recently at the Culloden Hotel.
Gary Mitchell was announced as the joint winner, along with Kieran McCormick, from Belfast, of the Learning in Practice Award, sponsored by the Open University.
Gary, director of Postgraduate Taught Education, and Keiran were recognised for the ‘exceptional support’ provided to nursing and midwifery students through their leadership of the ‘Ambition to Success’ programme. This competitive, voluntary initiative offers workshops, mentorship and hands-on experience beyond the formal curriculum, helping students build essential skills and confidence.
Their guidance enables student-led projects that address real-world health challenges while fostering leadership and resilience. Participants have gone on to achieve notable success, with their nominator highlighting that the programme has delivered measurable benefits for patients, communities and the future workforce in Northern Ireland.
Mary Jo Thompson, assistant director of Cancer in the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, won the Directors of Nursing Award, sponsored by the five Health and Social Care Trusts. Mary Jo was recognised for her commitment to collective leadership and improving population health outcomes. She has played a key role in co-leading major service developments, including trust flow initiatives, the implementation of a site co-ordination model and the transformation of Thompson House into a specialist medical facility, while also strengthening professional standards and staff development. Known for her strong communication skills and collaborative approach, Mary Jo has led significant capital projects such as the development of a state-of-the-art Macmillan chemotherapy unit at the Ulster Hospital and the refocusing of dermatology and neurology services. Her nominator highlighted her exceptional ability to influence, lead and deliver meaningful impact at every level of the organisation.
Jill Kennedy, sarcoma clinical nurse specialist at the South Eastern Trust, won the Cancer Nurse Award, sponsored by Macmillan Cancer Support. Jill established and now leads the sarcoma clinical nurse specialist service within the Trust, significantly improving access to high-quality, person-centred care for patients who often face complex physical and emotional challenges. She plays a vital role in enabling rapid assessment and treatment, while ensuring patients and their families feel fully supported and informed throughout their care journey. Her work has strengthened continuity of care through the introduction of nurse-led clinics, increased consultant capacity and the development of wellbeing initiatives for patients and families. Jill’s commitment to enhancing patient care is further demonstrated through her research into the psychosocial needs of sarcoma patients. The judging panel commended her strong person-centred approach and her leadership in advancing nurse-led models of care.
Jacqueline Kennedy, a health care support worker in the Macmillan Unit at the Ulster Hospital, was named runner-up in the Health Care Support Worker Award, sponsored by Healthcare Ireland. A valued member of the nursing team since 2020, Jacqueline was recognised for her compassionate, person-centred approach, providing vital support to cancer patients and their families, helping to ease anxiety and connecting them with wider support services. She is committed to maintaining the highest standards of care, with a particular focus on infection prevention, while also supporting colleagues to uphold these standards. Jacqueline continues to enhance her skills through ongoing training, with her nominator praising her dedication, professionalism and passion for improving care for cancer patients.
Amanda Brown and Carrie Hemsley, specialist community public health nurses in the South Eastern Trust, were commended in the RCN Northern Ireland Nurse of the Year Award. Through their innovative work, they have improved access to healthcare for young people by introducing school drop-in clinics and a health champion model. This approach provides early, stigma-free support across a wide range of issues, enabling concerns to be identified sooner and helping vulnerable pupils remain engaged in education. Their work also empowers students through peer-led health promotion and has strengthened links between schools, families and health services. The judging panel praised Carrie and Amanda for delivering an outstanding example of neighbourhood healthcare aligned with Health and Social Care transformation plans.
The overall winner of the RCN Northern Ireland Nurse of the Year Award 2026 was Linda Hamilton, paediatric ophthalmology manager in the Belfast Trust, who won the award for her work to transform and improve eye care for premature babies.
