Claire Cameron
12 March 2026
•2 min read
Award-winning leadership in Scotland
In 2025, Laura Turton, Head of Audiology at NHS Tayside was the joint winner of the Leader of the Year category at the Scotland's Health Awards. This recognition highlights her commitment to driving positive change and placing quality at the heart of patient care.
Laura said, “I am thankful that this award has brought audiology to the forefront of NHS Tayside services.”
Making an impact by numbers in NHS Tayside
The busy audiology service at NHS Tayside supports over 4,000 patients every month. They've reduced waiting times from over a year down to just 16 weeks. That's a huge achievement driven by over 25 years of NHS experience and a clear focus on service improvement.
Innovations setting new standards in audiology
The team has introduced group fittings to improve the patient experience. They also offer open-access repair clinics to give people much more flexibility in their busy lives. Their recent accreditation raises the standard of care, so everyone gets the right support.
Find out more about NHS Tayside audiology and balance services.
Laura’s career journey: From trainee to healthcare science leader
To understand the significance of Laura’s leadership success, it helps to appreciate her journey through the evolving landscape of audiology.
Laura began her career in 2000, entering audiology just before a BSc became mandatory for practice. She trained through an employer-supported pathway, completing an HNC in Medical Physics and Physiological Measurement. She followed this with the British Academy of Audiology’s theory and practical exams, gaining hands-on experience from day one.
After qualifying as an audiologist, Laura went on to mentor undergraduate university students. She later took the opportunity to complete a part-time MSc in Audiological Science. Although this qualification did not lead to clinical scientist registration, it opened doors into leadership roles. It also strengthened Laura’s clinical expertise and helped her gain skills that continue to shape her approach to service transformation today.
Clinical scientist registration through equivalence
Determined to become a registered clinical scientist in audiology, Laura discovered that NHS Education for Scotland (NES) offered funding to support practitioner-level healthcare scientists. It was an equivalency route for the Scientific Training Programme (STP) supported by the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS).
Laura shares: “As a department, we wanted to create a greater skill mix within our team, and the clinical scientist route allowed us to do this quickly. My hope was that it would put us in an excellent position to further develop audiology education within NHS Tayside, support future students, and enable the profession to progress. I felt this was a positive thing for us to do.
“Many of us applying for clinical scientist registration through equivalence have come to audiology from a range of educational routes. We have an array of clinical, leadership, research, and professional experience. The equivalence route allows all of this to be considered while applying to become registered with the Health and Care Professions Council as a clinical scientist.
“All of these experiences, alongside leadership opportunities and clinical experience development, have given me excellent connections with other professionals to help push the boundaries of audiology.”
Discover more about healthcare science funding opportunities.
What audiologists do and why it matters
Audiologists use advanced diagnostics and evidence-based care to treat hearing and balance conditions. They're dedicated to improving communication and confidence so people can live their best lives.
Leadership in healthcare science
Laura’s vision and creativity have redefined audiology care in NHS Tayside. Quality, access, and patient outcomes remain at the centre of clinical decision-making.
Explore a new career path
Are you looking for a rewarding career that helps people every day? You'll find diverse training pathways in healthcare science whether you’re a school leaver, a recent graduate or seeking a career change. Discover how you can make a difference in NHS Scotland.