NHS England’s North East and Yorkshire Medical Director and Clinical Lead for the Covid-19 Vaccination Programme, Dr Yvette Oade, has been awarded an CBE for services to women in the NHS in the New Year Honours List.

A paediatrician by background, with over 38 years NHS experience, Yvette has held a variety of senior roles across Yorkshire before taking post with NHS England.

Yvette graduated in Medicine from the University of Leeds and went onto to train in Manchester and the North West before holding roles in Calderdale, Hull and Leeds. Throughout her career, she has encouraged and supported women to succeed in consultant and leadership positions of their own.

On hearing of her award, Dr Oade commented: “I am delighted, honoured and humbled to receive this honour – I have enjoyed every day of my career, working with fantastic people, all of whom are focussed on doing their best for patients and the service. This recognition is the icing on the cake.”

NHS North East and Yorkshire Regional Director, Richard Barker CBE, said: “I am absolutely delighted Yvette has been recognised for her work in the NHS and services to women. Yvette has led a remarkable career and this award is a credit to her unwavering commitment and exemplary medical leadership within our NHS over many years.”

Yvette is also a Lay Member of Council for the University of Leeds, a Trustee for Yorkshire Cancer Research and Vice Chair and Trustee of Leeds Hospitals Charity.

In May 2020, after seven years in post, Yvette retired as Chief Medical Officer & Deputy Chief Executive for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, one of the country’s largest providers.

She promptly returned to the NHS to provide clinical leadership in the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine within NHS England’s North East and Yorkshire team and later took on the wider medical director role.

A resident of Liversedge, she has been married to Anthony for 36 years and has one daughter, Stephanie who is a junior doctor in West Yorkshire. She is also a doting grandmother to Sam, age 18 months.

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.

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.”

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Notes to editors

Other recipients of health and care awards include:

• Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
  Professor Christopher Paul DAY DL Pro-Vice Chancellor, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University. For services to Health Research and Treatment (Tyne and Wear)

• Officers of the Order of the British Empire
  Professor Joanne RYCROFT-MALONE Lately Programme Director, Health Services and Delivery Programme, National Institute for Health Research. For services to Health and Social Care Research (Cumbria)

• Officers of the Order of the British Empire
  Dr Andrew Robert WELCH Medical Director, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. For services to Healthcare and Patients in North East England (Tyne and Wear)

• Members of the Order of the British Empire
  Dr Peter Winston BELFIELD Lately Medical Director for Invited Service Reviews, Royal College of Physicians and Lately Chair, St Gemma’s Hospice. For services to Patient Safety and Care (West Yorkshire)

• Members of the Order of the British Empire
  Antony Robson JAMESON-ALLEN Co-Founder, The Sporting Memories Foundation. For services to Dementia and Loneliness (North Yorkshire)

• Members of the Order of the British Empire
  Professor Andrew Steven LOCKEY President, Resuscitation Council UK. For services to Resuscitation Training (West Yorkshire)

• Members of the Order of the British Empire
  Professor Eugene Michael Gerard MILNE Lately Director of Public Health, Newcastle City Council. For services to Public Health and Wellbeing (Tyne and Wear)

• Members of the Order of the British Empire
  Professor Roy TAYLOR Emeritus Professor of Medicine and Metabolism in Translational and Clinical Research, Newcastle University. For services to Diabetic Research (Tyne and Wear)

• Members of the Order of the British Empire
  Rachael Clare WHITAKER Policy Manager, Offender Health and Secure Services, Department of Health and Social Care. For services to Mental  Health Policy (West Yorkshire)
• Medallists of the Order of the British Empire
  Lorraine Susan LEAR Development Manager, Northallerton and the Dales Mencap Society. For services to People with Learning Disabilities in North Yorkshire (North Yorkshire)

For further information please contact the NHS England North East and Yorkshire media team on england.neymedia@nhs.net or 0773 038 1690.