Retired Keith care home manager Shona Conlin wins Healthcare Hero of the Year award at Moray and Banffshire Heroes 2025
A recently retired care home manager who was praised for always putting others first was named Healthcare Hero of the Year at the Moray and Banffshire Heroes awards ceremony.
Shona Conlin was presented with the accolade at the event which was held in the Banff Springs Hotel.
Her career in healthcare spanned 40 years and she was latterly manager at Parklands’ Weston View Care Home in Keith.
She said after being presented with the award: “I'm very humbled. It was such a strong category.
“To win the award is a great end to my 40-year career because I've just recently retired.”
Shona devoted her career to helping the most vulnerable in society, caring for those with learning disabilities to her elderly patients today.
She began her training at Moray College in 1985 prior to attending Foresterhill College of Nursing, gaining RNMH and RGN qualifications.
Shona has been a staff nurse, worked in general nursing, community nursing and spent 16 years as the senior healthcare co-ordinator in the Moray Learning Disability Team.
She joined Parklands Care Homes in 2013 and has been the manager at Weston View for the past two years.
She added: “My career started in 1985 when I started my student nurse training at Foresterhill Health College at the time, where I trained in learning disability nursing and worked at the Ladysbridge Hospital which is now closed. A lot of people have integrated into the community now.
“I then did my general nursing and thought that I was going to work in that field but found myself back working in a senior healthcare coordinator role for 16 years, settling people from the closure of long stay hospitals and doing a lot of project work. I was working with local GPs and a very specialist team to make sure all the health and wellbeing needs were met.
“I then went to work with Parklands Care Group in 2013 where I spent the last 12 years of my career working again with the most vulnerable people in our society, the elderly.
“I always thought if I got to my 40 years full-time working it was time to retire and focus on my family.
“I don't know where the 40 years have gone, it has absolutely flown past.
“It has been very rewarding and I've done my best, that's all I can do.
“I'm only one person and I accepted this award on behalf of all the individuals I've worked with in the NHS and private sector and the great teams I've worked with.”
A nomination for her to be put forward for the award said: “Shona is a selfless, hard-working and friendly nurse manager who always strives to put others first.
“Kind, compassionate and empathetic, Shona always has a smile on her face and puts others first.”
Shona was delighted to be shortlisted and paid tribute to her many colleagues over the years who have supported her.
She said: “Over the past 40 years, I’ve been very lucky to work with true unsung heroes.
“This recognition is also a recognition of the people that work alongside you.
“I’ve been truly gifted to work with some amazing individuals and teams, right from the very beginning of my career.
“I’m truly honoured and humbled that anyone has taken the time to consider me for this prestigious award.”
The Healthcare Hero of the Year award was sponsored by Specsavers Elgin.
