NHS Forth Valley staff are celebrating after a number of colleagues and teams were named among the finalists for Scotland’s Health Awards 2026, which recognise the outstanding individuals and teams making a difference to the lives of patients, families and communities across the country.

The annual awards celebrate excellence in healthcare, highlighting those whose dedication, compassion and innovation help shape the future of health and social care in Scotland. This year’s finalists have been recognised for going above and beyond in their roles, championing new ways of working, transforming services and providing exceptional care.

NHS Forth Valley finalists

Congratulations to the following NHS Forth Valley colleagues who have been shortlisted:

Leader of the Year – Linda Stevenson, Occupational Therapy Lead, Specialist Rehabilitation Unit, Bellfield Centre, Stirling Health and Care Village

Support Worker Award – Alexander Souter, Porter, Forth Valley Royal Hospital

Support Worker Award – Lorraine Christie, Reception Team, Forth Valley Royal Hospital

Their nominations reflect the commitment, professionalism and compassion demonstrated by colleagues across NHS Forth Valley every day.

Announcing this year’s finalists, judges praised the exceptional quality of nominations, which highlighted individuals and teams whose kindness, integrity and dedication inspire those around them to achieve their very best.

Vote for NHS Forth Valley’s Unsung Heroes

NHS Forth Valley is also represented in the Unsung Hero Award category where members of the public are invited to vote for an individual or team whose impact often goes unrecognised.

This year, NHS Forth Valley’s Intensive Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (iCAMHS) Team has been shortlisted for the award. The team was recognised for providing compassionate, expert and responsive care to young people experiencing mental health crises, supporting families, helping to prevent hospital admissions, mentoring colleagues and strengthening mental health services across Forth Valley.

Cast your vote now for the iCAMHS, voting closes at 23.59 on Tuesday 20 October. 

Ross McGuffie, NHS Forth Valley’s Chief Executive, said: “We are incredibly proud to see NHS Forth Valley colleagues recognised on a national stage through Scotland’s Health Awards.

“These nominations are a reflection of the dedication, compassion and professionalism demonstrated by our staff every day. Linda, Alexander and Lorraine have all made an outstanding contribution in their respective roles, while the iCAMHS team continues to make a real difference to the lives of young people and their families across Forth Valley.

“Reaching the finalist stage is a significant achievement and I would like to congratulate them all and thank them for their commitment to providing the highest standards of care and support. We wish them every success at the awards ceremony and encourage everyone to support the iCAMHS team by voting in the Unsung Heroes/Readers Choice Award.”

Angela Constance MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care, said: “Congratulations to all the outstanding individuals and teams who have been selected as finalists in this year’s Scotland’s Health Awards. The quality of nominations was exceptionally high, making the judging process both inspiring and incredibly challenging. 

“These awards shine a spotlight on the dedication, compassion and innovation that underpin healthcare across Scotland. The achievements highlighted through the nominations demonstrate the positive difference being made every day for patients, families and communities, and reflect our shared ambition to deliver accessible, person-centred care that helps people live healthier, longer lives.

“Making it to the finalist stage is an achievement in itself, and I would like to congratulate everyone who has reached this stage. I wish all our finalists the very best of luck and look forward to celebrating their success at the awards ceremony.”

Congratulations go to all NHS Forth Valley colleagues recognised this year, we wish Linda, Alexander, Lorraine and the iCAMHS team the very best of luck at the awards ceremony which takes place on Thursday 12 November 2026 at the Corn Exchange in Edinburgh.

To find out more about this year’s finalists, visit the Scotland’s Health Awards website.