NHS England’s former South West Medical Director has been recognised in the King’s New Year Honours.

Dr Michael Marsh – a familiar figure on regional TV screens, talking about everything from covid and flu to getting the right treatment – receives an MBE for his contribution over many years to healthcare and public service.

He is one of a series of people honoured for their NHS and related work in the South West, including a long-serving midwifery leader and the former chief executive of an integrated care board.

As Medical Director for NHS England in the South West, Dr Marsh provided senior clinical leadership from 2019 to 2025, throughout the pandemic and its aftermath. Prior to this, he worked in specialised commissioning in the London region, contributing to the development and delivery of high-quality, complex care services.

His distinguished career began as Consultant in Paediatric Intensive Care at Guy’s Hospital, London, before he went on to establish the first Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at University Hospital Southampton—a landmark achievement that has had a lasting impact on the care of critically-ill children. He became Medical Director at Southampton before moving to NHS England in 2015.

Dr Marsh retains his connection with the South West as a non-executive director at University Hospitals Dorset, as well as serving in a similar role at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London.

Sue Doheny, Interim Regional Director for NHS England in the South West, said: “This honour reflects Michael’s exceptional leadership, clinical expertise, and long-standing commitment to improving patient care across the NHS. We warmly congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition.”

Michael Marsh said: “My entire career has been a joy and a privilege, firstly as a paediatrician caring for our most vulnerable and sickest patients, and as a medical leader improving services for the wider public. Now, in my non-executive roles at Moorfields and University Hospital Dorset, I’m able to continue to support high standards of clinical care.”

Other recipients of NHS-related honours in the South West are:

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE):

• Mary Hutton, Chief Executive of Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board from 2021 to 2025, for services to the NHS and to community wellbeing. Mary also led the One Gloucestershire Integrated Care System and, before that, NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, having worked in the NHS for over 36 years.
• Ann Remmers, Maternity and Neonatal Clinical Lead at Health Innovation West of England, for services to maternal and neonatal care. Ann was awarded the Chief Midwifery Officer Gold Award for 50 years of outstanding service, beginning her career as a midwife at Southmead Hospital and ultimately becoming Director of Midwifery at North Bristol NHS Trust and Clinical Director for the South West Maternity and Children’s Clinical Network.
• Dr Fiona Donald, lately President, Royal College of Anaesthetists, for services to anaesthesia, intensive care and pain medicine. She retired earlier this year from her post as a consultant at Southmead Hospital in Bristol, after 28 years, having helped set up the first free-standing birth unit in Bristol and the South West Regional Perinatal Equity Network.

Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

• Dr Neil Walden,  Non-Executive Director, NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board, for services to healthcare. A former GP and partner at Marazion Surgery until his retirement from practice in 2019, he has championed the integration of health and care and development of neighbourhood health, as well as the wellbeing of his own patients.

British Empire Medal

• Stephen Farbrother, aged 74, volunteer Community First Responder with South Western Ambulance Service, in recognition of outstanding dedication and service to his local community in Cornwall.

King’s Ambulance Service Medal England

• Christopher Charles Mann, Operations Officer, South Western Ambulance Service