Cornwall NHS leader wins top regional award for championing women’s health

A trailblazing NHS leader from Cornwall has won one of the headline honours at this year’s West Country Women Awards – a moment that shines a spotlight on the vital importance of women’s health across the region.

The Awards celebrate exceptional women across Cornwall, Devon and Somerset, recognising those who are reshaping their communities for the better.

After three consecutive years as a nominee, Deborah O’Nyons of NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board has triumphed in the Diversity and Equality Award, recognising her outstanding leadership in tackling long-standing women’s health inequalities.

Deborah has been at the forefront of Cornwall’s bold drive to transform women’s health, challenging systemic issues such as delayed diagnoses, misdiagnosis, and long-standing barriers to care. Her work is helping ensure that every woman – regardless of background or circumstance – receives timely, compassionate and equitable support.

Major achievements under her leadership include:

• delivering Cornwall’s first dedicated Women’s Health Strategy
• establishing women’s health hubs offering extended appointments closer to home
• improving access for women who face the greatest barriers, including those affected by domestic or sexual violence, women with learning disabilities, refugees, and women from Gypsy and Traveller communities

Susan Bracefield, Acting Chief Executive of NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board says:

“Debbie’s win is a hugely deserved celebration of her determination to place women’s health at the top of the agenda. Her leadership has brought energy, focus and urgency to an area that has been overlooked for far too long.

“She has helped our system listen more carefully to women’s experiences and redesign services with compassion and purpose. This award recognises not just her achievements, but the positive change now being felt across Cornwall.”

The awards process is fully anonymous, meaning Deborah does not know who nominated her. Finalists are selected solely on the strength of their applications, reflecting the impact and clarity with which she has championed Cornwall’s women’s health priorities.

In June, Deborah hosted a landmark event for Cornwall – The Future of Women’s Health: Access, Equity and Action. The conference united more than 100 leaders, clinicians and community voices, with keynote speaker Professor Dame Lesley Regan, the Women’s Health Ambassador for England.

Deborah O’Nyons of NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board said:

“I’m deeply honoured to receive this award. Women’s health matters profoundly – it shapes families, communities and future generations. To see this work recognised so publicly is incredibly uplifting.

“This achievement belongs to an extraordinary network of colleagues and partners who share a commitment to fairness, dignity and better outcomes for women. Together, we are proving what’s possible when women’s health is given the attention and respect it deserves.”

Read more about Cornwall’s Women’s Health Strategy.