Seven health and care workers in the South West have been recognised in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours list which has been announced today. 

The doctors, nurses, therapist, and volunteer community first responder received awards for their hard work and dedication to helping people and communities across the NHS and health care settings.

Jane Cummings, former NHS England Chief Nursing Officer and Non Executive Director at Gloucestershire ICB

Former NHS England Chief Nursing Officer and Non Executive Director at Gloucestershire ICB, Professor Jane Cummings CBE, has been given a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her voluntary services to the Nursing and Health and Social Care. 

She is also currently the Chair of the RCN (Royal College of Nursing) Foundation and has spent her 45-year career supporting and strengthening nursing and midwifery at local, regional and national level.  

Speaking about her award Professor Cummings said: “I am absolutely delighted and humbled to receive this award which reflects the impact of the work undertaken by the RCN Foundation to support nursing and midwifery, and to improve the health and care provided by our professions. I am grateful to all the people involved in my nomination. 

“This recognition reflects the wider contribution of the organisations, communities and people that I work with as Chair of the RCN Foundation. It is a real privilege for me to be able to contribute to supporting and strengthening the professions and to improving health and care outcomes across the UK. This honour is also a recognition of the impact of the RCN Foundation, through its ongoing work to support nursing, midwifery, health and social care.” 

Carole Boulanger, Consultant Nurse and Advanced Critical Care Practitioner (ACCP) at Royal Devon University Healthcare, received an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to critical care in Devon.  

Carole currently leads a team of ACCPs in Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford) ICU and has been an ACCP for the past 20 years. During this time, she has been pivotal in the development of the ACCP career pathway, rolled out across the UK following a pilot at the Royal Devon, then adopted by the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine (FICM). 

She said: “It’s overwhelming and very humbling and I’m really honoured and grateful to have even been considered. This is the first time someone in the ACCP role has been recognised in this way and it’s wonderful to shine a light on the difference ACCPs make to intensive care unit teams, our patients and their families.” 

Dr Parag Singhal, Consultant Endocrinologist at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, was awarded an OBE for services to Health Education and Black and Minority Ethnic doctors.

Dr Parag Singhal, Consultant Endocrinologist at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, was also awarded an OBE for services to Health Education and Black and Minority Ethnic doctors. He said: “This was a huge surprise, and I am very honoured to receive this OBE.  

“The education and support of doctors is vital to empower them when working under challenging conditions. In some of the most difficult situations the global healthcare profession has seen, it is wonderful to know the work we did to help had a significant impact. This honour is a recognition of the support I have received over the years, and I am incredibly grateful.” 

Dr Harvey Sampson, a GP, who has dedicated over 40 years to supporting the community of Highbridge and Burnham on Sea, and the wider population of Somerset was a Medallist of the Order of the British Empire for services to General Practice. 

While working as a GP, Dr Sampson held a variety of other roles in both the Commissioning and General Practice Provider sector, supporting the wider healthcare system as a member of the Executive Committee of Somerset Primary Care Trust for a number of years, and as an expert GP advisor to Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group on a number of projects.  

He said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been included in this year’s King’s birthday honours list. To be recognised for my work with the award of British Empire Medal is a huge honour, and it has been a privilege to help care for patients in Somerset over the years.” 

Geoff Edwards, a Community First Responder (CFR) who has volunteered with South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) for 23 years received a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his outstanding voluntary service to the local community. 

Geoff began volunteering as a CFR in 2002 and continues to provide vital support to his community, routinely making himself available for 60 to 65 hours every week to attend emergency calls. 

Geoff said: “I get great satisfaction from my role as a CFR and for my contribution to the local community to be recognised with the award of a BEM is amazing. This is a huge honour for me which gives me immense pride.” 

Sue Doheny, Interim Regional Director, NHS England South West, said:  “These awards recognise the dedication and skill of NHS staff across our region. We are incredibly lucky to have such skilled and dedicated staff, and I am delighted that so many of them in the South West have been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours. 

“This is another opportunity to recognise the breadth of expertise within the health and care service and these recipients all show the very best of the incredible work being carried out in our region and I want to congratulate everyone from the health and care sector receiving an honour – it is very much deserved.”  

Others recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours list within the South West region include: 

Dr John Bernard Carlisle, Consultant Anaesthetist at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to Medicine and Patient Care. 

Carolyne Hague, Principal Adult Occupational Therapist, Devon County Council and Chair of the National Principal Occupational Therapist Network, was also awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to Occupational Therapy in Adult Social Care.