The Independent’s Rebecca Thomas named health journalist of the year in Press Awards 2026
Independent‘s reporter Rebecca Thomas was named health journalist of the year at the Press Awards 2026.
Ms Thomas’s work also included an investigation into a rapist NHS mental health nurse who was allowed to work with vulnerable hospital patients for a year despite police warnings that he was a suspect, and reporting on three disabled children who died in similar circumstances at The Children’s Trust.
He was also known for his work on autistic patient Nicholas Thornton; After dogged reporting about herself, her experience of living in inappropriate care homes and hospitals, she regained her ability to speak and, after a 10-year struggle, saw herself finally re-housed in the community.
Judges praised Ms. Thomas for her ability to expose wrongdoing and create real-life change through her journalism.
“Rebecca’s work demonstrates what every journalist hopes to achieve: standing alongside the most vulnerable in society to expose wrongdoing, affecting real-life impact and lasting change. It is investigative reporting at its best,” they said.
Reacting to her win, Ms Thomas said: “It’s such an honor to win; a huge thank you to those who trusted Indy to tell their stories and to the editors who helped bring the stories to life.”
The multiple award-winning reporter was also named health journalist of the year at the Press Awards 2025.
Ms Thomas was praised for her relentless pursuit of whistleblower concerns about the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and for consistently highlighting failings in the health service’s safeguards.
Her investigation into rapist nurse John Chukwunonso Iwuh, who worked for more than a year while under investigation, led the NMC to reveal shocking gaps in its legislation and led two NHS hospitals to launch independent reviews.
Police have launched a new investigation into one of the deaths after a series of failings were uncovered at The Children’s Trust, one of the UK’s largest care homes for disabled children.
Independent It was also honored in other categories on Thursday night; chief international correspondent Bel Trew was shortlisted as foreign correspondent of the year and global ravel editor Annabel Grossman was nominated as travel journalist of the year.
The publication’s Brick by Brick campaign, which raises money to build two homes for women fleeing domestic violence, has also been shortlisted for campaign of the year.
