NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s Mental Health Unscheduled Care Assessment Hub, based at Woodland View, Ayrshire Central Hospital, was announced as the winner of the Mental Health Nursing Award at the grand RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards ceremony on 30 April.
This award recognises those who have succeeded in raising standards of care for their patients and clients and have made an outstanding contribution to the care of service users.
Established in September 2024, this nurse-led Mental Health Unscheduled Care Assessment Hub is the first of its kind in Scotland. The Hub provides 24-hour assessment and short-term therapeutic interventions for up to 72 hours, supporting patients to remain safely in the community and limiting unnecessary inpatient admissions. The Hub works closely with the Intensive Community Psychiatric Nurse Team (ICPNT) and advanced nurse practitioner team colleagues to facilitate smooth transitions between community and inpatient settings, support early discharge, and provide step-down care when needed. In its first year, the Hub managed 256 admissions, returning 76% of patients directly to the community.
The judges praised the Hub’s nurse-led care model which reduces unnecessary delays out-of-hours as the service is always staffed by clinicians who are able to safely assess, agree and arrange patient admission, care and treatment, and discharge processes. Head Judge, Margaux Lobban, said: “We were particularly impressed that the hub has not only been found to benefit the individuals who access it, and their loved ones and carers, but it has proven highly beneficial to the wider health services, in particular emergency service colleagues.”
Congratulating the Hub on their win, Colin Poolman, RCN Scotland Executive Director said: “Mental health nursing care is key to supporting patients and clients who are in crisis. The nursing team at the Hub is at the forefront of reducing waiting times for accessing assessment, ensuring people get the care they need, when they need it. Well done.”
North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Director Caroline Cameron said: “Congratulations to the team at the Mental Health Unscheduled Care Assessment Hub for their award – this is a truly well-deserved achievement, and we are very proud of them. They are making a real difference to patient care and having a positive impact on our communities in Ayrshire.”
NHS Ayrshire & Arran Nurse Director Jennifer Wilson added: “This is fantastic news and well deserved – many congratulations to the team, who are a great example of excellence in nurse-led care.”
For further information on the finalists and winners, go to www.rcn.org.uk/ScotAwards