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Lead NHS vaccine nurse and frontline staff among health service honours

Dozens of NHS staff have been recognised in this year’s New Year Honours list ahead of the health service’s 75th birthday.

The honours have been awarded to an array of NHS staff including front line doctors and nurses, hospital volunteers and leaders in the world beating Covid vaccination programme.

Leading nurse, Jennifer Hall, director of nursing and clinical delivery for NHS England’s Covid-19 vaccination programme has been awarded an OBE for services to the NHS, particularly for her work during the pandemic.

While Catherine Heywood, who is NHS England’s lead for domestic abuse and sexual violence and a former deputy director at the Ministry of Justice, has been awarded an OBE for public service.

Dr Joel Meyer, an intensive care consultant at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust receives an MBE for services to the NHS during Covid-19. Joel was co-founder of the Life Lines project, which helped families connect with loved ones in intensive care during Covid-19 pandemic. His fellow co-founder, Professor Rebecca Rose, also receives an MBE.

The head of the NHS praised hard working and dedicated NHS staff across England who have been recognised once again in this year’s list.

NHS chief executive, Amanda Pritchard, said: “Thanks to the hard work of everyone in our skilled, compassionate and dedicated NHS team, we have continued to deliver the best possible care for patients and recover services affected during the pandemic over the last year.

“As the NHS heads into its 75th year, I am delighted to see the fantastic work of so many of my excellent health service colleagues reflected again in this year’s honours, including many for their work during the pandemic and the Covid-19 vaccination programme.

“I want to congratulate all those receiving recognition today for their fantastic efforts”.

Dr Joel Meyer, intensive care consultant at NHS Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and co-founder of Life Lines, said: “I feel amazed to have been nominated for this exceptional honour. At the start of the pandemic, when Professor Louise Rose and I came up with Life Lines, a way of keeping families and patients connected virtually, we did not anticipate the speed, scale of impact and sustained success of the project. This award is an opportunity to recognise the extraordinary efforts, goodwill and ongoing contributions of the whole Life Lines team, partners and collaborators”.

Dr Wirinder Bhatiani, former chair of NHS Bolton CCG, who receives a BEM for services to health and diversity in Greater Manchester, said: “It is an honour and a privilege to receive this recognition; this reflects the work of the CCG working in partnership with our GPs, the hospital, the council and the voluntary sector.

“My thoughts are currently with the health and care staff who are working in an extremely difficult situation and our communities who are also experiencing significant difficulties”.

Doris Garton, receives a BEM for her services volunteering at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Ann Radmore, former regional director for NHS England, East of England, has been awarded a CBE for services to the NHS alongside Dr Yvette Oade, regional medical director for NHS England’s North East and Yorkshire team, who has been awarded a CBE for services to women in the NHS.

Local trust chief execs are also recognised with Lesley Watts, who is chief executive of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundations Trust and currently senior responsible officer for discharge at NHSE, being awarded a CBE for services to the NHS. Karen Howell, chief executive of Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, receives an OBE for services to health care.

The services recognised range from nursing and healthcare, to work during the Covid-19 vaccination programme and for women in the NHS.

A number of top nurses receive honours, with MBEs for Elspeth Jane Clegg, NHS England’s chief nurse for London, Zebina Ratansi, director of nursing at Whipps Cross University Hospital, and Samantha Salaver, head of dental nursing at Guy’s and St Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust.

Other NHS staff recognised include:

  • Andrea Williams-McKenzie who works at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust has been awarded a CBE for public service, from her time at the London HM Courts and Tribunals Service.
  • Dr Andrew Welch, medical director at the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, receives an OBE for services to healthcare and patients in North East England.
  • The improvement director for intensive support at NHS England, Dr April Brown, receives an MBE for services to the NHS and to nursing.
  • Dr Minal Bakhai, a GP and director of primary care transformation at NHS England, has received an MBE for services to general practice, particularly during Covid-19.
  • Professor Beverley Harden, NHS England’s deputy chief allied health professions officer, has received an MBE for services to healthcare.
  • Professor Lyn Chitty, professor of genetics and fetal medicine at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust has received a damehood for services to medicine.
  • NHS England’s regional director of commissioning, Caroline Reid, receives an MBE for services to the Covid-19 vaccination programme in South East.
  • Michael Conway, a service manager at Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has received an MBE for services to anatomical pathology technology.
  • Professor Isobel Heyman, a consultant psychiatrist at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, who works with children and young people at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, is co-clinical lead for mental health on the Cambridge Children’s hospital project and is honorary consultant psychiatrist at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, receives an MBE for services to child and adolescent mental health services.
  • Betsey Lau-Robinson, head of adult safeguarding and the Mental Health Capacity Act at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, receives an MBE for services to patient safeguarding.
  • Dr Jyotiben Shah, Macmillan consultant urological surgeon at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, receives an MBE for services to medicine.
  • Professor Charlotte Anne Skitterall, group chief pharmacist at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, receives an MBE for services to pharmacy.
  • Patricia Cargill, chair of Notthingham University Hospitals NHS Trust’s patient partnership group, receives a BEM for services to NHS patients.