20th August 2026
Winner of the Nicola Tallon Student Nurse of the Year Award was Edel Hughes, she is pictured with Nicola’s mum and dad.
The Southern Trust is proud to announce Edel Hughes as the winner of the Nicola Tallon Student Nurse of the Year Award 2026.
This special award was launched in memory of our esteemed colleague Nicola who had worked in our Home Treatment Crisis Response team within the mental health division and passed away in June 2021.
Pictured left to right are runner up Tara Heatley, Grace Hamilton, Executive Director of Nursing, winner Edel Hughes, Non-Executive Director Michele Corkey centre, Jan McGall Director of Mental Health and Disability Services, Commended Nominee Katie McKitterick and Consultant Nurse Maureen Roberts right.
Edel, from Dungannon, received not one, but three nominations from different individuals, a testament to the remarkable impact she had made on those around her. Edel stood out for her outstanding work during placement with the Perinatal Mental Health Team, with the winning nomination from Kayley Lamont, Community Mental Health Nurse.
Runner up Tara Heatley who was nominated by Sinead Smyth a Community Learning Disability nurse, impressed the judges with her work with people with a learning disability. Sinead reported that Tara ensured that service users felt heard, valued and involved in decisions about their care.
The judging panel praised the high calibre of applications, noting the exceptional quality, values and ethics demonstrated by all students who were nominated. This year, five students were Commended including Aodhan Corrigan, Keela Nixon, Oisin McMahon, Aoibheann Ni Thuaithal and Emma McKitterick.
Pictured at the Nicola Tallon Student Nurse of the Year Awards are left to right Nominator Sinead Smyth, Community Learning Disability nurse, Tara Heatley, runner up, winner Edel Hughes and her Nominator Kayley Lamont, Community Mental Health Nurse.
Director of Mental Health and Disability Services Jan McGall added:
“Congratulations to Edel our Nicola Tallon Student Nurse of the Year winner and to Tara, our runner-up. Both represent the very best of our values in action.
“Their commitment to compassionate, high-quality care reflects our Vision and Strategy 2030 where our people are at the heart of delivering safe, innovative services and shaping the future of healthcare.”