Leighton Hospital nurse celebrated for work helping diabetes patients

Tracey Molyneux began her career with the Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in 2000, when she began working at Leighton Hospital.

After completing her training in 2003, Tracey, of Sandiway, spent the next 12 years working as a district nurse, practice nurse and nurse manager, including at the Witton Street Surgery.

Returning to Leighton Hospital in 2015, Tracey took on the role of advanced clinical practitioner, working with the acute medical team.

And now, for huge difference she has made to diabetes services, Tracey has received a prestigious award and claimed the title of 'advanced clinical practitioner of the year for Cheshire and Merseyside'.

Tracey, who is also a network lead diabetes specialist nurse for Cheshire and Merseyside, said: "I was honoured to be nominated and completely overwhelmed to win the award of advanced clinical practitioner of the year.

“I want to thank all the members of the diabetes specialist team for their dedication, commitment, and motivation in making my ever-evolving visions a reality.

Tracey receiving her award (Image: MCHFT)

"They truly make a difference in supporting people living with diabetes."

Some of the areas highlighted where Tracey has made a difference include supporting young adults with type one diabetes who struggle to manage their condition; a pilot programme which took diabetes care into nursing homes to ensure patients get the support they need; and her overall dedication to developing the inpatient diabetes services at Mid Cheshire hospitals.

Following her outstanding success and contribution to diabetes care, Tracey received her honour from NHS Cheshire and Merseyside’s annual Advanced Practice Awards.

She collected the award during a celebration with colleagues at Leighton Hospital.

Dr Douglas Robertson, consultant diabetologist and endocrinologist at Mid Cheshire Hospitals, nominated Tracey for the award.

He praised her ability to inspire her team, promote diabetes services, support safety, conduct and use research, organise education for colleagues, and improve care for patients.

Dr Robertson, who is also clinical lead for outpatient recovery and transformation for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, said: "Tracey is an exceptional colleague with a balance of drive and the ability to engage and inspire others.

"She is a complete clinician, compassionate with patients, autonomous but flexible in her working practices, supportive and empowering of clinical colleagues and dogged in her pursuit of safety measures and the resources to make things happen not just at Mid Cheshire Hospitals, but across the integrated care system."

Tracey with her colleagues (Image: MCHFT)

One of Tracey's professional highlights since returning to Leighton Hospital was presenting the findings of her Masters research at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Berlin.

And, as a qualified advanced clinical practitioner, Tracey has helped shape the trust’s inpatient diabetes service.

The success of this work led to Mid Cheshire Hospitals being highlighted in NHS England’s five-year plan as an example of an ideal inpatient diabetes service.

In October 2022, Tracey became one of the Trust’s first consultant advanced clinical practitioners and shortly after that she was appointed as the specialty lead for the diabetes and endocrine service.