Colleagues from Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital (RACH) are celebrating success in achieving Magnet® designation with distinction for care excellence – the highest possible international standard for nursing care. RACH has become the first children’s hospital in Europe and the first hospital in Scotland to achieve Magnet designation.
Executive Nurse Director, Dr June Brown said: “This is a huge boost for us and it is testament to the outstanding team work across Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital, as well as our success in empowering nursing colleagues to improve care for children and families.
“I am immensely proud to see colleagues’ hard work, dedication, passion and commitment to delivering outstanding care recognised in this way. It is not an easy process and it shows what’s possible when we pull together, put the important things first and support staff to achieve their goals.”
In the run up to designation, patients, family members, staff and members of the wider public were invited to offer feedback, the team has journeyed through an extensive evidence gathering process and they welcomed visitors from the American Nurses Credentialling Centre (ANCC) to RACH to assess their work at the end of April.
NHS Grampian's Chief Nurse for Combined Child Health, Caroline Clark explained: “We are absolutely delighted to be recognised in this way. Magnet has enabled us to make meaningful, evidence-based improvements to clinical practice, directly benefiting families and making a real difference to the lives of our young patients.
“The focus on staff-led innovation — from new approaches to medicines management, to recorded handovers and new models of care closer to home — has been truly transformational, delivering changes that have a significant impact on both patient experience and outcomes.
“We will continue to prioritise a culture of shared decision-making, invest in education and development at every stage of a nurse’s career, and celebrate the many patient success stories across our services, while also learning from the rare occasions when things do not go to plan.
“Importantly, we recognise that Magnet is a journey, not a destination, and we remain committed to continuous improvement. We would like to thank colleagues across RACH and beyond, along with our international partners from the ANCC, for their unwavering commitment and dedication.”
Part of the Magnet process has involved teams inviting regular feedback from families receiving care as well as measuring staff retention. Since surveys started in 2023, patient experience and satisfaction has increased from around 75% to 95% overall. Staff turnover at RACH reduced by almost half between 2023 and 2025.
Muhammad Trawally is one very special little boy who has been benefitting from the care of NHS Grampian since he was born last November. A problem with his intestines means he first had surgery when he was just one day old, and then again six weeks later. After around six months in the care of RACH receiving parenteral nutrition, a form of liquid food that goes directly into the bloodstream, Muhammad finally got to go home to join his big brothers last week.
His mum, Mama Jagne explained: “We have had the best experience and been treated so well. The children’s hospital felt like home and the care was amazing. Everyone loves Muhammad! In all the time we spent there, I cannot fault one day. everyone was so kind. With my older boys who are six and nine, it was difficult to juggle being in two places at the same time, but the hospital teams made it easy for me. We knew they were looking after him really well and knew he was in good hands. They definitely deserve this recognition.”
The ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® is the highest credential a healthcare organisation can achieve. A Magnet designation indicates to patients and the public these organisations have met the most stringent, evidence-based standards of nursing excellence in patient care delivery.
NHS Grampian’s Chief Executive, Laura Skaife-Knight commended the announcement: “Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital has become the first children’s hospital in Europe and the first hospital in Scotland to achieve Magnet designation with distinction. This is a significant moment and achievement. We are extremely grateful to everyone who has played their part in making it happen. It puts us on the map and recognises the exemplary care our teams deliver here every single day. Importantly, it will help us to attract new talent to the North-East as well as retain valued staff members.”