A VITAL Dumfries and Galloway mental health service providing round-the-clock care for inpatients experiencing an acute mental health episode has been named one of the top nursing teams in Scotland.
Balcary Ward, the Intensive Psychiatric Care Unit (IPCU) at Midpark Hospital in Dumfries, has been shortlisted for the Mental Health Nursing Award in the RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards 2025 — a national celebration of compassion, innovation, and excellence in nursing practice.
The nomination highlights the team’s exceptional work in delivering high-quality, person-centred care to individuals experiencing acute and complex mental health challenges.
Justin Murray, General Manager for Mental Health at NHS Dumfries and Galloway, said: “This nomination is a huge honour for our team, and it speaks volumes about the dedication, resilience and skill of everyone working on Balcary Ward.
“Every day, they go above and beyond to ensure people in crisis are met with compassion, dignity and the highest standard of care. To see that recognised at a national level is incredibly rewarding.”
The team has been praised for their person-centred approach in supporting some of the most vulnerable individuals in the region, often during the most challenging moments of their lives. Their innovative and collaborative practice was a key factor in securing their place as a finalist.
Senior Charge Nurse Alistair Carlyle from the Balcary Ward team said: “As a team, it’s fantastic to be nominated for this award and something we are all really proud of. The team has worked really hard, reducing adverse incidents by over 50 per cent through a local project to improve patient and staff experience.
“However, we don’t do this job for awards but because we care, but to be recognised like this means so much to every single member of our team. It gives us even more drive to keep pushing for better outcomes for our patients.”
Now in its second year, the RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards celebrate the very best in Scottish nursing. Hundreds of nominations were received from across the country, with the judging panel selecting finalists across 12 categories.
Winners will be announced at a ceremony on 12 June at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. One individual from the registered nurse categories will also be named RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year 2025.
Julie Lamberth, Chair of RCN Scotland Board, said: “All our finalists truly demonstrate the daily dedication of nursing staff in delivering the best of nursing care for the people of Scotland.”
For more information on the awards and to view the full list of finalists, visit www.rcn.org.uk/ScotAwards
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