Birmingham Children's nurse honoured at the WellChild Awards

A nurse from Birmingham Children's Hospital has been named Outstanding Nurse at the 2026 WellChild Awards, where the charity's patron, the Duke of Sussex, paid tribute to the nurses who help seriously ill children live at home.

Rachel Shanahan, Lead Nurse for Discharge and Complexity at the hospital, was chosen from hundreds of nominations from across the UK. The ceremony took place at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.

Twenty years of WellChild nurses

Rachel joined the WellChild Nurse programme in 2015. WellChild nurses help children and young people with complex health needs to leave hospital and be cared for at home, working with families, schools and community services.

Speaking at the awards, the Duke of Sussex said: "Since the first WellChild Nurse was appointed 20 years ago, the programme has grown to 54 nursing posts in children's hospitals and communities throughout the United Kingdom."

He added: "It is about giving children and young people the confidence and support to thrive at home, at school and within their communities."

Pride at the hospital

Daljit Athwal, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer at Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Her unwavering commitment, dedication and compassion have transformed the care and experiences of children with complex medical needs and their loved ones."

Why discharge nursing matters

For children who depend on equipment such as ventilators or feeding tubes, going home can take months of planning. Families need training, equipment has to be installed, and community nurses and carers must be ready to take over. Without that work, children can spend far longer in hospital than they need to.

About the hospital

Birmingham Children's Hospital, on Steelhouse Lane in the city centre, is one of the largest specialist children's hospitals in the country. It treats children from across the region and beyond, and provides specialist services for conditions including liver disease and complex heart problems.