Julie Roye, from East London NHS Foundation Trust, has been selected from 920 entries as a finalist in the Leadership category of the RCN Nursing Awards 2023.
Ms Roye will find out if she has won at a ceremony on Friday 10 November at Liverpool Cathedral. The overall RCN Nurse of the Year 2023, selected from all the category winners, will also be announced at the event.
Head of Nursing for Primary Care Julie Roye has brought together a multidisciplinary team, administrative staff, and population health leads to co-develop improvements to cervical screening uptake in a diverse patient population.
Ms Roye recruited more nurses, established evening sessions in response to feedback, enabled women to book their preferred appointment time and nurse via a texted link, and ensured texts and letters were delivered in appropriate languages for non-fluent English speakers.
She ensured inclusivity for trans men and non-binary people. In nine months, screening uptake has risen from 54% to 73% for people aged 25-49, and from 62% to 82% for those aged 50-64.
Ms Roye said: ‘I’m elated to know that this project has been recognised nationally, and so pleased to raise the bar for myself and for the fantastic team I work with who are managing primary care services.’
‘It's a great honour to see Julie being shortlisted for the prestigious RCN Nursing Awards,’ said Dr Mohit Venkataram, ELFT Executive Director for Primary Care.
‘Her leadership, patient-focused approach, and innovative work in cervical screening have made a significant difference in our community. She is a beacon of excellence within our Trust, and we are incredibly proud of her achievements.’
RCN general secretary and chief executive Pat Cullen said: ‘Our inspiring finalists demonstrate the very best of nursing and what can be achieved in some of the challenging times for the profession.
‘They highlight the wide variety of ways nurses improve the care of people at all stages of life and how they demonstrate their professionalism and clinical excellence every day, and in every setting, throughout the UK.’
The Foundation of Nursing Studies is the award’s charity partner this year. Its chief executive and current chair of the judging panel Joanne Bosanquet MBE said: ‘The quality of entries this year was superb and it was near impossible to choose our finalists from the creative and innovative work submitted.
‘The shortlist showcases excellence and recognises the enormous difference that nurses make to people’s lives throughout the UK.’
The RCN Nursing Awards will this year be held alongside the inaugural Nursing Live, a new and dynamic event for everyone who works in nursing. Hosted over two days (November 10th-11th) at the ACC complex in Liverpool, the event will focus on both the professional and personal development of nurses at every stage of their careers and will be the first event of its kind for the sector.
