Scotland's Health Awards 2026 - search for medics with a global touch
Making a global difference is second nature to some healthcare professionals
For some healthcare professionals, the commitment runs so deep that the day job is just not enough.
For Jonathan Hannay, a consultant surgeon at NHS Golden Jubilee, his skills, compassion and experience benefit not only patients in Scotland, but those in Zambia too.
Mr Hannay was last year’s winner in the Global Citizen Category at Scotland’s Health Awards, with nominations now open to find the 2026 recipient.
For more than a decade, Mr Hannay has volunteered his own time to work at Chitokoloki Mission Hospital, a small but vital facility on the banks of the Zambezi River.
Each year, he travels thousands of miles to perform complex surgeries, including cancer, trauma and reconstructive procedures, for patients who often have no other access to treatment.
His work has helped transform lives in a region where resources are limited and patients frequently arrive with advanced conditions. In addition to providing direct care, Mr Hannay donates medical supplies, trains local clinicians and is helping to build links between Zambia and the UK to support future collaboration in research, training and service improvement.
Last year, the judging panel praised Mr Hannay’s dedication, compassion and impact, describing his work as “a powerful example of global citizenship in action.”
Carolynne O’Connor, the executive of NHS Golden Jubilee, said her colleagues story was a “reminder of the difference one person can make”.
Mr Hannay, who is supported by his hospital to take time to volunteer in Zambia, said he went into medicine to make a “real difference to people who need it most”.
Many of the conditions he treats in Zambia are unseen in his work in Scotland.
Chitokoloki Mission Hospital is led by Dr and Mrs McAdam, a Northern Irish couple who have dedicated over 40 years to serving communities in Western Zambia.
Dr McAdam, a surgeon, is the hospital’s lead clinician and Mrs McAdam, a theatre nurse, works alongside a small team of Western and Zambian clinicians to deliver care in challenging conditions. Their reputation draws patients from across the region.
When nearby government hospitals become overwhelmed, they refer patients to Chitokoloki, where help is limited, but hope remains.
Mr Hannay said: “Every time I visit, I see how small things, like a stoma bag or fracture repair, can completely change someone’s life.
“There are patients I’ll never forget. There was a woman who had been to 6 hospitals before being referred to us with an advanced shoulder tumour. A colleague called me from her bedside to ask for help.
“10 days later, I flew out and performed her surgery and 2 years on, she’s alive and caring for her family.”
The Global Citizen category at Scotland’s Health Awards is open to anyone who works in health or social care and who volunteers their skills with patients in low and middle income countries around the world.
All staff working in health and social care including nurses, doctors and dentists, allied health professions, social workers, social care workers, healthcare scientists and estates and maintenance and other support staff can be nominated.
Nominations for Scotland’s Health Awards 2026 are now open and can be made at www.scotlandshealthawards.co.uk
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