Mid Yorkshire consultant shortlisted for prestigious national healthcare award

Veena Kaul pictured in uniform in front of a computer with a pen in her hand

Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust Consultant Gynaecologist and menopause specialist, Miss Veena Kaul, has been shortlisted for Clinical Leader of the Year at the HSJ Awards 2026, recognising her outstanding contribution to improving menopause care and securing her place at the prestigious awards ceremony later this year.

Recognising that too many women were facing long waits to access specialist support, she led the development of a more sustainable and integrated menopause service, helping to improve access to care and reduce waiting times.

Miss Kaul said: "I am delighted to be shortlisted for Clinical Leader of the Year at the HSJ Awards.

"When I saw women waiting more than a year for specialist menopause support, I knew we needed to rethink how services were delivered. My aim was to create a model that would give more women timely access to the right care, while building expertise across the wider health system.

"Working closely with colleagues across primary and secondary care, pharmacists, managers, patients and partner organisations, we have developed a more sustainable model that improves access to care and enables more women to receive the right support at the right time.

"This recognition reflects the dedication and commitment of everyone involved in that journey. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together and of the positive difference it is making to the lives of women across our communities."

Dr Debbie Hallott, GP and Clinical Advisor for Women's Health, worked alongside Miss Kaul to deliver the transformation and praised her leadership, saying: “Veena Kaul is an exceptional clinical leader whose vision and commitment have transformed women's health services across Wakefield, West Yorkshire and nationally. Through sustained collaboration with patients, primary care colleagues, secondary care teams, and wider stakeholders, she has pioneered innovative service models that have significantly improved patient outcomes, reduced waiting times, and enhanced access to specialist care.

“Her unwavering focus on patient-centred care has resulted in higher patient satisfaction, more equitable access to services, and lasting system-wide benefits. She is a role model for clinical leadership, inspiring others to challenge traditional boundaries and delivering meaningful, measurable improvements for women, staff, and the wider NHS.”

HSJ Editor Alastair McLellan commented: "It always gives me great pleasure to congratulate our finalists at this stage of the judging process and this year is no exception as we acknowledge Miss Veena Kaul for being shortlisted in the Clinical Leader of the Year category.

"We can't wait to welcome our finalists to the awards ceremony in November and to recognise and applaud such impressive achievements across the sector. Huge thanks also go to our headline partner, Lloyds Clinical, who share our mission of driving the standard of healthcare excellence and creating better patient experiences."

Winners will be announced at the HSJ Awards ceremony at Evolution London on 19 November 2026.

For more information about the awards and partners, visit: https://awards.hsj.co.uk/partners.