Scotland's Health Awards 2026: Nominations open as Health Secretary urges people to get involved

These are the words from the new Health Secretary Angela Constance as she officially launches this year’s Scotland’s Health Awards 2026, sponsored by The Scotsman.

The Scotsman is once again hosting this year’s awards, which celebrate the extraordinary achievements of individuals and teams who go above and beyond to deliver compassionate, high-quality health and social care to the people of Scotland.

There are 16 awards up for grabs, all aiming to recognise frontline health and social care workers and celebrate those who work hard behind the scenes to make sure patients across the country get the highest level of care possible.

Despite only being appointed as the new health secretary last week, Ms Constance is already excited to launch this year’s awards.

“I’m absolutely delighted to be launching Scotland’s Health Awards 2026 in my new role as cabinet secretary for health and care,” she said.

“These awards are a fantastic opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge our wonderful colleagues who work tirelessly day in, day out across our health and care service to deliver high quality care and compassion - often under challenging and emotional circumstances.

“Scotland’s Health Awards are about recognising the extraordinary efforts that make a lasting difference to the lives of patients, families and communities.

“These awards give people the chance to say a heartfelt thank you - to express their gratitude for the care and kindness they’ve experienced.

“For staff and volunteers, it’s a powerful reminder that their work is valued and appreciated.

“Whether they’re on the frontline or in support roles, being recognised for the difference they make is incredibly special.

“I would encourage everyone to please take the time to nominate and say thank you on behalf of all of us.”

The awards ceremony and gala dinner will be held at the Edinburgh Corn Exchange on Thursday, November 12, but nominations are now officially open.

This year’s categories include gongs for support workers, volunteers, midwives, allied health professionals, nurses, doctors, healthcare scientists and pharmacists.

Other awards include recognition for innovation, global citizenship, integrated care, and tackling health inequalities.

Leader of the year, top team of the year and young achiever of the year will also be awarded on the night.

All of these awards aim to recognise professionals from across the health and social care sector, who work together to provide first-class healthcare across the country.

Nominations close on Sunday, August 23, but readers will have until October to vote on this year’s Readers’ Choice Award, which is hand-selected by the public themselves.

One of the previous winners of the unsung hero award was Michael Kidd, a paramedic with the Scottish Ambulance Service at NHS Ayrshire and Arran.

He drove fundraising efforts to create an interactive sensory room at Monkton Primary School, as well as Aoife’s Sensory Bus, a specialist service named in honour of his daughter who died aged six in 2019 from a brain tumour.

When he won the award, Mr Kidd said: “Because it helped Aoife so much, we set up a fundraising campaign to help children like her and have now raised enough money for a second bus.

“It’s wonderful to see the campaign take off and make an impact, and that good can come out of something so devastating.”

The Scotsman’s editor Alan Young said he was delighted to be hosting this year’s awards, in partnership with NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government.

He said: “Every day, people across Scotland experience the remarkable care and compassion of those working in the health and social care sector. It would be too easy to take those high standards for granted, which is why events like this matter - we are able to acknowledge the exceptional, and celebrate the people who deliver.

“Our experience of health and social care is usually with the brilliant staff on the frontline, but these awards also offer a chance to recognise those behind the scenes - the leaders, managers and others who make less heralded, but important, contributions.”

The awards ceremony and gala dinner, which is expected to be attended by over 450 people, will be hosted by television presenter Grant Stott.

NHS Scotland, Healthier Scotland, the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of Nursing and Glasgow Caledonian University’s School of Health and Life Sciences are all sponsoring this year's awards.

Nominations are now open and can be submitted online at scotlandshealthawards.co.uk.

Those wishing to make a nomination will be asked to describe the person or the team they want to nominate, explain what that individual or group is trying to achieve, what they did that was so special, and what difference it made to the person or people being cared for.

Every year this awards night proves to be a popular hit, making it well worth the time nominating those who have cared and looked after you or your family in a time of need.

In the past those who have been nominated say having that form of recognition from peers and members of the public is incredibly important, and that getting to the final shortlist and being at the awards, as well as winning, is an incredibly special moment.