Wirral NHS Nurse receives national Rising Star award
A specialist nurse from Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH) has been recognised on the national stage after winning the Rising Star Award at the prestigious 2026 Diabetes Nursing Awards.
Sue Browne, Diabetes Specialist Nurse, received the accolade in recognition of her exceptional contribution to diabetes care and her impressive impact early in her specialist nursing career.
The Diabetes Nursing Awards celebrate the very best diabetes nurses and teams across the UK, recognising those who are transforming care and improving outcomes for people living with diabetes. The Rising Star Award honours an outstanding emerging leader who has demonstrated innovation, ambition and dedication to advancing diabetes care.
Sue was recognised for developing the Directory of Diabetes, a comprehensive, freely accessible digital resource that has transformed access to diabetes guidance across the Trust. The innovative platform has helped standardise clinical practice, improve consistency of care and support healthcare professionals to deliver high-quality, evidence-based treatment for patients. The resource was recently showcased by Sue at the Diabetes UK Professional Conference in Liverpool.
Sue's journey began at WUTH as a newly qualified nurse on the Gastroenterology Ward, where caring for patients with Type 3c diabetes sparked a passion that would shape her future career.
Today, as a Diabetes Specialist Nurse, Sue supports patients across the Trust while championing education, innovation and service improvement. Alongside her clinical work, she plays a key role in helping colleagues build confidence in diabetes management and contributes to local and national audit and research projects designed to improve patient outcomes.
Speaking about receiving the award, Sue said: "I was honestly very surprised to receive the award. There are so many wonderful diabetes nurses across the UK doing incredible work to improve the lives of people living with diabetes, and I think they all deserve recognition.
"I feel honoured to have received an award recognising the work I've been doing here at WUTH, but this achievement also reflects the support of my colleagues. We have a fantastic Diabetes Team who support one another every day to provide the best possible care for our patients.
"I really enjoy supporting nursing colleagues in their own development, helping to deliver projects that improve diabetes care both within the Trust and nationally through audit and research, as well as spending time with patients to help them better understand and manage their condition."
Speaking about what inspired her to specialise in diabetes nursing, Sue added: "My journey started here at WUTH as a newly qualified nurse on the Gastroenterology Ward. Many of the patients I cared for had Type 3c diabetes, which presented unique challenges in managing their needs and sparked my interest in diabetes."
Sue also paid tribute to those who have supported her throughout her career.
She said: "The teams I've worked with over the years have been wonderful, but I'd especially like to thank Sister Garner, Malcolm Simpson and Kay Hannon for their support, guidance and encouragement. I wouldn't be where I am today without them."
Janelle Holmes, Chief Executive at Wirral University Teaching Hospital, said: "This is a fantastic and richly deserved achievement for Sue. To receive national recognition as a Rising Star is a reflection of her passion, innovation and unwavering commitment to improving the lives of people living with diabetes.
"Sue embodies the very best of the NHS. She combines expert clinical care with a drive to innovate, educate and improve services for patients and colleagues alike. We are incredibly proud of her success and delighted to see her recognised on a national stage."
The award highlights not only Sue's remarkable contribution to diabetes care, but also the outstanding work taking place across WUTH to improve outcomes and experiences for people living with diabetes.