Countess of Chester Hospital clinician named national finalist at Student Nursing Times Awards 2026 (1)
A Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust clinician has been named a national finalist at the Student Nursing Times Awards 2026.
Claire Slater, an advanced clinical practitioner in the Trust’s Acute Medical Division, is one of just ten finalists in the Learner of the Year: Post Registration category and will attend an awards ceremony in London on 24 April.
Claire was nominated by Liverpool John Moores University where she obtained a postgraduate apprenticeship in advanced clinical practice, in recognition of the exceptional progress she made during her Master’s degree.
Throughout her studies she consistently achieved top grades, grew significantly in confidence, took on additional responsibility as a cohort representative, and continued to excel in her work at the Trust - all while coping with multiple personal challenges and bereavements.
Her nomination also follows praise for her quick thinking during an off duty emergency in August 2024.
After leaving a retail park on the Wirral, Claire noticed a member of the public in severe medical distress. With no equipment or team around her, she immediately assessed the situation, began CPR and directed bystanders to call 999 and fetch a defibrillator until emergency crews arrived.
She later received a full debrief, along with support and reassurance from the Trust’s Resuscitation Team and has since become an advocate for improved aftercare for bystander CPR in the community - highlighting how the experience can leave individuals with unanswered questions about the patient’s outcome and whether they did everything they could.
Sallie Kelsey, The Trust’s Head of Education said: "We are committed to creating a learning environment where our staff can truly thrive, and Claire is an outstanding example of the highly skilled, compassionate and resilient professionals that are now coming through our education pipeline and into our local NHS workforce.
"Her dedication to her studies, her clinical excellence and her ability to remain composed under pressure are a great example of the qualities we strive to nurture.
"We are incredibly proud of her achievements and delighted to see her recognised on a national stage,” she added.
Claire said: “Being nominated for a Student Nursing Times Award is an incredible honour. The last two years have been challenging in many ways, so to receive this recognition means more than I can say.”
Her commitment to learning has also been acknowledged within the Trust, where she was shortlisted for the Commitment to Learning category at the 2025 Countess Staff Awards.