First Chief Nursing Officer Student Excellence Award presented to Salford nursing apprentice

The Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) and Chief Midwifery Officer (CMidO) awards were developed to reward the significant and outstanding contribution made by nurses and midwives across England. This is the first time the award has ever been presented to a student, after being opened to nominations last year.

Gabriella (Gabby) Fee is studying on the University’s Nursing Associate Apprenticeship programme, and works for Alternative Futures Group, a health and social care charity providing specialist support for people with a learning disability or mental health need. 

As an apprentice, Gabby divides her time between on-the-job training with her employer and learning at university. Throughout her training, she has exemplified excellence in practice through innovation, compassionate leadership, and a clear commitment to tackling inequalities for people with mental health needs and older adults.

Gabby’s remarkable initiative and focus on improving service user experiences saw her lead the development of a Recovery Café, supporting current and former service users at an independent mental health service, as well as members of the local community. 

Her impact is also reflected in the heartfelt feedback she receives from service users, with one describing her as: “an excellent communicator with a heart of gold whose kindness and attentiveness supported me through recovery”. 

Presenting the award to Gabby, Duncan highlighted that colleagues had described her as “compassionate, innovative and principled; a future professional already making a meaningful difference”. He also praised her as “an outstanding ambassador for the nursing associate profession”.

Andrea Boland, Deputy Director of Workforce, Training and Education at NHS England – North West, who was present at today’s ceremony said: “A huge congratulations to Gabby, who has shown remarkable initiative and a focus on improving experience for service users with mental health needs.  

“Her commitment to tackling inequalities in both work and study is an example of the kind of nursing associate we need here in the North West. 

“This award is thoroughly deserved.”

Karen Heggs, Director of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Salford, said: “We are so proud of Gabby and really honoured that she has been presented with the first ever Student Excellence Award. This is such a fantastic and important recognition of all Gabby’s hard work, and the hugely important role that nursing associates have.”

The University of Salford, which is one of the largest providers of nursing and midwifery undergraduate education in the north, has seen incredible success in recent years for its Nursing Associate Apprenticeship programme, which has won and been shortlisted for a number of high-profile awards. Most recently, the programme was shortlisted for the third year running at the Student Nursing Times Awards, in a category the team won last year.