Kate Williams wins south west primary care nurse leader of the year award

A nurse leader at Symphony Healthcare Services has won a prestigious award from NHS England’s Chief Nursing Officer for the south west.

Kate Williams, nursing and allied health professions director for Symphony Healthcare Services, was announced as the winner of the Primary Care Nurse Leadership award at the Community and Primary Care Nursing Awards.

When announcing Kate as the winner, the judges said they were blown away by her tireless commitment to improving patient outcomes and supporting her workforce, and that she embodies the qualities of a transformative leader in healthcare.

Her role involves looking after all professionally registered non-GPs within Symphony and unregistered clinical colleagues (such as healthcare assistants and phlebotomists), and she also leads on research for the organisation, having previously been the clinical director for the South Somerset West primary care network.

Kate has a varied background and initially qualified as a nurse in 2008, having subsequently worked in London, before moving to Yeovil Hospital.

She has led on large scale service transformation programmes, such as the commissioning of Open Mental Health at the turn of the decade, as well as the COVID-19 vaccination programme for Somerset.

It was in 2023 that Kate joined Symphony, gradually working her way up into her current nurse director role.

“I was totally surprised to win the award as I was up against six other finalists, all of whom had been nominated for excellent, amazing work,” she says.

“When they read out my name I was stunned — it felt incredible, especially as I’ve never won anything in my life!

“The award is very much about championing teams, leadership within nursing, making sure all those voices count and are heard, and that we’re doing the right thing by our people.

“I think winning an award like this that recognises the contribution of my leadership has been really affirming for me, as my contribution has been noted by others, who’ve taken the time to nominate me.

“To be honest it’s really humbling for me that somebody has gone to the trouble of putting in a nomination, so I feel really proud, while knowing there’s more to do to raise the voice of all my colleagues who I represent."

Deirdre Fowler, our chief nurse and midwife, says: "I am delighted to congratulate Kate on being named South West Primary Care Nurse Leader of the Year. This achievement is a testament to her exceptional commitment to patient care and her outstanding leadership.

“Kate’s inclusive leadership style has created an environment where every voice is valued, collaboration thrives, and innovation is encouraged. We are incredibly proud to have Kate as part of our team and celebrate this well-deserved recognition."

Kerry White, managing director of Symphony Healthcare Services, adds: "I am immensely proud of Kate for being recognised as the Primary Care Nurse Leader of the Year.

“This award is a testament not only to Kate’s tireless dedication to improving patient outcomes and supporting her colleagues, but also to the culture we foster at Symphony Healthcare Services.

“Her success reflects the strength of our commitment to developing nursing and allied health professionals within general practice, ensuring they have the support, opportunities, and leadership needed to thrive. Kate embodies the leadership that inspires our teams and demonstrates the impact of investing in our people."

Kate’s award is a testament to her leadership, compassion, and dedication to nursing across Somerset – well done Kate!