“"We are incredibly proud of Sophie and everything she has achieved. This award is thoroughly deserved recognition of the compassion, dedication and leadership she brings to supporting our nursing workforce. Sophie understands that looking after our people is fundamental to providing outstanding care for our patients. Her work has created safe and supportive spaces where colleagues can reflect, develop and find their professional voice, and the impact of that has been felt by thousands of colleagues. What makes Sophie so special is that she genuinely cares about people. She has taken that passion and turned it into meaningful, lasting improvements which are helping our nurses to feel supported, valued and able to thrive. Sophie embodies everything our Pathway to Excellence® journey is about and I could not be prouder to see her work recognised in this way. On behalf of everyone at University Hospitals of Northamptonshire, I would like to congratulate Sophie on this fantastic achievement."
Northampton Nurse Wins Prestigious International Award for Wellbeing Support
Sophie Mayes recognised for her significant impact on nursing staff development and wellbeing at Northampton General Hospital.
By Aisha Mahmood
••3 min read
AI
Generic image of a nurse's hands holding a stethoscope in a hospital setting.
A nurse from Northampton General Hospital has received a prestigious international award for her outstanding work in supporting the wellbeing and professional development of healthcare colleagues.
Sophie Mayes, Lead Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA), has been named winner of the Pathway Nurse of the Year Award – Wellbeing and Professional Development. The award recognises the significant impact her work has had on colleagues across Northampton General Hospital.
Sophie’s work in professional advocacy has supported thousands of colleagues, helping to strengthen staff wellbeing, professional development, psychological safety, and nurses’ professional voice. She trained as one of England’s first Professional Nurse Advocates during the COVID-19 pandemic and has since led the development of a PNA service which now includes more than 80 qualified PNAs.
The service provides colleagues with access to restorative supervision, reflective practice, and professional advocacy, offering protected opportunities to reflect on experiences and support wellbeing and development. Initiatives introduced under Sophie’s leadership include structured restorative days for colleagues experiencing sustained moral distress and self-rostering, now used across all adult inpatient areas and the Emergency Department. Professional advocacy has also been extended to Allied Health Professionals, supporting staff at various career stages.
Sophie’s work aligns with the principles of the ANCC Pathway to Excellence® programme, which focuses on creating positive practice environments where nurses and midwives feel empowered and supported to deliver high-quality care. Sophie holds a joint role across University Hospitals of Northamptonshire, also delivering work at Kettering General Hospital to support colleagues as part of KGH’s wider Pathway to Excellence® journey.
Based on information from the official source: Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust (02/11/2026)
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