Psychologist is Scotland’s Health Awards finalist for her campaign work
Senior Lecturer in Applied Psychology Dr Liza Morton has been named as a finalist in the Volunteers Award category in this year’s Scotland’s Health Awards in recognition of her tireless campaign work.
Dr Morton was a driving force behind the development of Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s national standards for congenital heart disease (CHD) care and services in Scotland.
She is passionate about the importance of supporting the mental health needs of those who live their lives with CHD because of her own personal experiences.
Dr Morton, who underwent pioneering pacemaker surgery as a baby, has co-authored a book about the impact of living with a long-term heart condition, Healing Hearts and Minds – a holistic approach to coping well with congenital heart disease, and a new book Beyond the Medical Gaze: Practicing Psychologically Informed Healthcare will be published next month.
The Volunteers Award recognises those who volunteer their time to support the health and wellbeing of NHS Scotland. From fundraising to befriending and carer support, it celebrates those whose selfless contributions make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
All finalists are invited to attend the Scotland’s Health Awards Ceremony on Thursday, November 6, in Edinburgh. The University’s School of Health and Life Sciences is sponsoring this year’s Allied Health Professional Award which recognises an allied health professional delivering outstanding care and support.
Dr Morton, who was shortlisted after being nominated by her proud husband Craig Morton, said: “I was very touched that Craig nominated me for this award. My congenital heart condition does not just affect me; it impacts on my entire family. Craig has supported me through countless health crises over the years, witnessing their fuller impact.
“I was fitted with a pacemaker at 11 days old, in a world first in 1978, at Glasgow’s Yorkhill Hospital. Currently fitted with my 11th pacemaker, I require lifelong care for complex pacing. Like many people with CHD, since reaching adulthood, I’ve found it challenging to access the specialist care I need, particularly during pregnancy and medical emergencies.
“Specifically, I encountered life-threatening issues accessing the specialist care I needed when our son was just five-years-old, which was very distressing for us. This experience prompted my petition and campaign for national healthcare standards for congenital heart disease in Scotland. It is hard enough growing up with a heart condition without having to fight your way through the medical system, I wanted to improve things for those coming up.”
CHD is incurable and lifelong specialist care is internationally recommended. More than 12 million people live with CHD globally with a population of 20,000 in Scotland, yet almost half of the Scottish CHD population are ‘lost to care’ leaving them at risk of developing more serious cardiac problems and premature death, says Dr Morton.
The Awards are hosted by The Scotsman in partnership with NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government. The list of finalists have been published in The Scotsman - https://www.scotsman.com/health/in-full-the-finalists-in-scotlands-health-awards-2025-as-we-honour-health-heroes-5352861