25-04-2025
Dumfries and Galloway mental health service named one of Scotland's top nursing teams
A Dumfries and Galloway mental health service has been named one of the top nursing teams in Scotland. Balcary Ward – the intensive psychiatric care unit at Midpark Hospital in Dumfries – has been shortlisted for the Mental Health Nursing Award in the RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards 2025. The service provides round-the-clock care for inpatients experiencing an acute mental health episode. The nomination highlights the team's exceptional work in delivering high-quality, person-centred care to individuals experiencing acute and complex mental health challenges. The ward's senior charge nurse, Alistair Carlyle, 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.' The team has been praised for their efforts in supporting some of the region's most vulnerable people, 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. Click here for more news and sport from Dumfries and Galloway. NHS Dumfries and Galloway general manager for mental health, Justin Murray, 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 will find out if they've won at the RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year awards at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh on June 12. Chair of RCN Scotland Board, Julie Lamberth, said: 'All our finalists truly demonstrate the daily dedication of nursing staff in delivering the best of nursing care for the people of Scotland.'
