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Dozens of NHS staff awarded honours in Queen’s Birthday list

Cara Charles Banks, the head of the hospital which treated victims of the Salisbury nerve agent attacks joins nurses, psychiatrists, cancer specialists and family doctors and is among more than 30 local and national NHS workers recognised in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

The NHS’ Chief Allied Health Professions Officer, Suzanne Rastrick, has been awarded an OBE for her work providing national leadership for 14 different staff groups, ranging from paramedics to speech therapists.

Mrs Rastrick qualified as an occupational therapist in 1986, working across hospitals, primary care and community services before taking on leadership roles at local and then national level.

Meanwhile, Dr Rajesh Patel, a GP and Deputy National Medical Director for Primary Care, and Dr Habib Naqvi, Workforce Race Equality Standard Policy Lead, were both awarded an MBE for services to healthcare and equality and diversity in the NHS respectively.

Dr Adrian Crellin, a leading consultant oncologist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, and NHS England’s Clinical Lead on Proton Beam Therapy, will receive a CBE for his services to radiotherapy.

David Roberts, Vice Chair of the NHS England board, will also receive a CBE in recognition of his contribution to a number of organisations including the health service.

NHS England chair, Lord David Prior, said: “These honours are a tremendous achievement for these individuals, and the NHS as a whole, and each of them is thoroughly deserved.

“I am particularly pleased that the awards recognise the diverse range of skills and roles represented across the NHS, right the way from the front line to those providing leadership at local and national level.”

The NHS England contingent are among dozens of other health and care staff and volunteers recognised in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honour list.

The Chief Executive of Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, Cara Charles-Barks, will be honoured with a MBE for the exceptional and inspirational leadership she showed during the 2018 nerve agent attacks.

Elizabeth Darlinson, a consultant nurse at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, for her work on treating mesothelioma, a rare asbestos-related cancer, will receive an MBE, while Dr Shubulade Smith, a consultant psychiatrist at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and a longstanding campaigner for better understanding of mental health issues, has been awarded an CBE for her services to forensic psychiatric intensive care.

And Professor Kevin Fong, Consultant Anaesthetist at University College London, expert on space medicine and broadcaster, will be awarded an OBE for his services to medicine and healthcare.

The strong showing for NHS staff in the Queen’s Birthday Honours follows on from a significant number of health and social care professionals work being recognised in the 2019 New Year’s Honours list and 2018 Birthday Honours.