Edinburgh Napier University

An Edinburgh Napier professor has been recognised for their ‘transformative’ work as part of a landmark list created to celebrate the 75^th birthday of the NHS.

Professor Liz Hughes has been selected as one of 75 nurses and midwives whose work has had an especially significant impact on the NHS by the Nursing Times magazine.

Announced last week at a special ceremony with key leaders and academics from the health profession in London, the event named 75 clinicians who have had a transformative impact on their area of practice during the lifetime of the NHS, as well as those who are viewed as its rising stars.

Professor Hughes is a Professor of Nursing within Edinburgh Napier’s School of Health and Social Care.

She is a mental health nurse by background and has worked clinically in acute inpatient mental health settings, as well as drug and alcohol treatment services. She held one of the first Dual Diagnosis specialist posts in the UK.

Prior to working at Edinburgh Napier, she was Professor of Mental Health at the University of Leeds and was Director of Research for School of Healthcare.

Professor Hughes has published more than 60 papers and generated more than £5million of grant income as a lead and co-investigator.

Her current research interests are focused on the intersection of sex, sexuality and sexual violence and mental health problems (including trauma) as well as co-morbid physical health issues for those with severe mental health (such as smoking, drugs and alcohol, physical exercise, womens health and reproductive health).

A passionate advocate of clinical academic careers for nurses, and allied health professions, she has supported numerous clinical staff in research internships, pre-doctoral fellowships and doctorates.

On receiving the recognition, Professor Hughes said: “I was truly honoured to be named in the list of 75 nurses who have made an impact and to attend the event. I was surrounded by legends of nursing. I was especially moved by the video celebrating the 75 years of the NHS and that I've been able to contribute as a mental health nurse as well as a researcher. The NHS has done so much to address health inequalities and I hope that it's still in existence for the next 75years!”