Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals’ (ASPH), Senior Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner and Transitional Care Lead, Vanessa Sturt, has been recognised for her outstanding contributions to neonatal care at the Global Health Awards 2025. The ceremony took place in July 2025 at the House of Commons, London.
The Global Health Awards 2025 is a landmark event dedicated to honouring excellence and innovation in healthcare and the contributions of doctors, researchers, pharmaceutical leaders, and healthcare organisations who are shaping the future of global health.
With nearly 20 years of experience in neonatal intensive care, Vanessa’s career was inspired by the expert and compassionate team who cared for her own preterm children.
Since completing her Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (ANNP) training, Vanessa has undertaken a hybrid role across maternity and neonatal services, supporting babies and families throughout their journey. She has also served as ASPH’s Advanced Practice and Non-Medical Prescribing Lead, where she led service improvements, developed advanced practice pathways, and contributed to policy development across Surrey Heartlands.
Her MSc in Advanced Practice, alongside experience in governance, research, and teaching, reflects her deep commitment to continuous professional development. Currently, as Clinical Lead for Transitional Care, she has spearheaded initiatives that enhance patient experience and outcomes in both transitional and postnatal care. Her work, particularly in family-integrated care and strategies to keep families together, has been showcased on national and international platforms. Reflecting on her award, Vanessa said, ‘Neonatal care is always a team effort. While I am only one part of the whole, I will treasure this recognition as a reflection of our collective work. I dedicate this award to my colleagues at St Peter’s Neonatal Unit, whose tireless commitment ensures outstanding care for families every day.’
‘The awards ceremony was a memorable occasion, conversations with inspiring professionals, and the unforgettable experience of accepting an award on a national stage.’’
Chief Medical Officer, Mark Roland said: It gives me great pleasure to congratulate Vanessa on this award. We are incredibly proud of her and delighted that her contributions to our neonatal intensive care team have been recognised. Well done, Vanessa, on this outstanding achievement and for everything you and your team do to care for our tiniest patients.’
Full details about the Luminary Global Health Awards can be found online at Global Health Awards 2025 - Luminary Networks
Photo credit: Luminary Networks Ltd
