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Humble and proud: nurses on New Year honours

England’s outgoing chief nurse and nurses who treated victims of the London Bridge terror attack are among 27 members of the profession to be recognised in the New Year honours list

England’s outgoing chief nurse and nurses who treated victims of the London Bridge terror attack are among 27 members of the profession to be recognised in the New Year honours list

The New Year honours list published today recognises 27 members of the nursing profession, including England’s outgoing chief nurse and a theatre sister and associate director of nursing who treated victims of the London Bridge terror attack.


Jane Cummings

Jane Cummings is awarded a CBE (Commander of the British Empire) for services to nursing, along with Claire Murdoch, who is chief executive of Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, which continues to care for survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire.

Professor Cummings, who stepped down from her post as chief nursing officer for England this month after a six-year tenure, introduced programmes including the 6Cs, Compassion in Practice, and Leading Change, Adding Value, the national framework for nursing, midwifery and care staff.

She said: ‘It is a huge privilege to be recognised in the New Year’s Honours list and great to see that our professions are leading the way this year.

‘I am incredibly proud of what nurses and midwives have achieved over the last 12 months despite the challenges they face, and the awards they have received are well deserved and should rightly be celebrated.’


Claire Murdoch

Remembering dedicated people

Ms Murdoch, who is also NHS England national mental health director, is a mental health nurse by background and has worked in the NHS for 35 years. She said her role has always been as part of a team. ‘I am privileged to accept this honour by remembering all the great, dedicated people I have worked with, and still do – above all the patients and families I have had the pleasure to help,' Ms Murdoch said.

‘I’m looking forward to the next important years, more determined than ever to deliver an improving NHS.’


Michelle
McLoughlin

Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust’s chief nurse Michelle McLoughlin is the third nurse to receive a CBE in this year’s honours list.

She started her career at Birmingham's Children’s Hospital helping young people with serious kidney conditions before being appointed chief nurse in 2007. Since then Ms McLoughlin has pioneered a number of initiatives including the Children and Young People’s Safety Thermometer tool and a patient feedback app.

Ms McLoughlin said she felt humbled to receive the honour.

‘It’s just not something that you ever expect. I’ve been in a very privileged position for a number of years in caring for other people’s children.

‘I know just how important that is. It’s brought me so much joy, and you simply cannot fail to be inspired by the bravery and tenacity of the young people who are going through such a lot.’


Joy Ongcachuy

Compassion and integrity


Malik Ramadhan

Elsewhere on the list, two nurses and a doctor at Barts Health NHS Trust in London receive OBEs (Order of the British Empire) for their work in treating people caught up in the London Bridge terrorist attack on 3 June 2017.

Robotic lead nurse Joy Ongcachuy, associate director of nursing Emma Senyard and emergency consultant Malik Ramadhan have collectively cared for patients in east London for 58 years.


Emma Senyard

Managing director for the trust's Royal London and Mile End hospitals Jackie Sullivan said of the trio: ‘Their leadership, compassion and integrity is inspiring every day, but was especially true at a time when Londoners relied on us to be there for them.’

Nurse of the year

Meanwhile, RCN nurse of the year Melanie Davies, a ward sister with Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board at Morriston Hospital in Swansea is also awarded an MBE.

Ms Davies worked with a bereaved family to champion the care of patients with learning disabilities, including training staff to recognise the individual and involve patients, their carers and families in all planning and decision-making.


Angela Thompson

Ms Davies said: ‘What I do is a passion of mine but it’s nice to know that my efforts have again been recognised. Senior managers in the hospital nominated me – I’m shocked but humbled and honoured they think I’m worthy of it.’

Ms Angela Thompson, director of nursing and deputy regional chief nurse London at NHS Improvement, who was awarded the MBE, said: ‘I am proud to accept this award on behalf of all the nursing colleagues I have worked with over the years.’

Commenting on her award, Professor Oliver Shanley, regional chief nurse for NHS England and NHS Improvement (London), said: ‘I am absolutely delighted for Angela. She is a highly respected senior nurse leader who has worked tirelessly to improve patient care for many years. This is great recognition for the leadership she has shown, particularly her focus on safe staffing and the nursing workforce.’

Also receiving an MBE is Public Health England's national lead nurse Wendy Nicholson who said: 'I’m privileged to be a nurse and honoured to have worked and to continue to work with children, young people and families.

'Also working as a volunteer for children in need and as an independent visitor for children in care has been rewarding.'

Nurses going the extra mile

Oxford Institute for Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Research visiting professor of nursing Brian Dolan, who is a former editor of RCNi's Emergency Nurse journal, also receives a OBE.

Professor Dolan's talk at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust in 2016 inspired the campaign #EndPJParalysis across the UK to get patients moving, improving recovery and discharge rates.

'For a very long time in emergency care and beyond, I’ve been passionate about valuing people’s time, be they patients or staff.

'What’s been lovely is how strongly this message has resonated to so many around the world who have responded to more recent campaigns like #Last1000days and #EndPJparalysis.

'Humbled and grateful may seem cliches but it’s how I and I’m sure many other New Year honours' recipients feel right now.'

RCN acting general secretary Professor Dame Donna Kinnair said she was delighted to see so many nurses recognised, and congratulated Professor Cummings on working 'tirelessly to promote nursing in government'.

'Nurses are the biggest staff group in the NHS, and constantly go the extra mile to give the best possible care for their patients. 

'They don’t do this in the hope of attracting plaudits, but I’m sure they will be pleased to receive this important public recognition.  I send my warmest congratulations to all the recipients.'

Nurses on the New Year honours list

CBE

Jane Cummings. Chief nursing officer for England and regional director London NHS England. For services to nursing and the NHS. (Ascot, Berkshire) 

Michelle McLoughlin. Chief nursing officer. Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust. For services to paediatric nursing and patient safety. (Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands) 

Claire Murdoch. National director for mental health at NHS England and chief executive, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust. For services to the NHS. (London)

OBE


Brian Dolan

Brian Dolan. Visiting professor of nursing at Oxford Institute for Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Research, and a former editor of Emergency Nurse journal. For services to nursing and to emergency care. (Warwickshire) 


David Foster

David Foster. Trustee at the Queen's Nursing Institute. For services to nursing and midwifery. (London) 

Joy Ongcachuy. Theatre sister at Barts Health NHS Trust. For services to healthcare. (London)

Emma Senyard. Associate director of nursing for surgery at Barts Health NHS Trust. For services to healthcare. (London)

Cynthia Williams. For services to nursing and the community.

MBE

Patricia Armstrong-Child. Director of nursing at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust. For services to nursing. (St Helens, Merseyside)

Zoe Boreland. Formerly head of midwifery at South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust. For services to midwifery. (Down)

Rebecca Chester. Consultant nurse and chair of the National Learning Disability Consultant Nurse Network, Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust. For services to people with learning disabilities. (Alton, Hampshire)


Melanie Davies

Andrew Gritt. Formerly service and clinical lead at Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust. For services to nursing and mental health. (Bournemouth, Dorset)

Melanie Davies. Sister at Morriston Hospital, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board. For services to patients with learning disabilities. (Neath, Neath Port Talbot) 

Maureen Horton. Community staff nurse at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. For services to nursing and the NHS. (Sheffield, South Yorkshire)

Margaret Kitching. Chief nurse for north region, NHS England. For services to nursing. (Barnsley, South Yorkshire)

Imelda McGucken. Director of CHARIS Cancer Centre. For services to nursing and palliative care in Northern Ireland. (Cookstown, Tyrone)


Ruth Oshikanlu

Wendy Nicholson. National lead nurse for children, young people and families at Public Health England. For services to nursing for children and young people. (Market Drayton, Shropshire)

Ruth Oshikanlu. Ambassador for the health visiting profession. For services to community nursing, children and families. (London)

Gail Powell. Senior nurse and professional lead for health visiting at Aneurin Bevan Local Health Board. For services to health visiting. (Blackwood, Caerphilly)

Angela Thompson. Director of nursing and deputy regional chief nurse for London at NHS Improvement. For services to nursing and healthcare leadership. (Haslingfield, Cambridgeshire)

BEM

Elizabeth Bainbridge. Consultant nurse at Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. For services to nursing and vulnerable people. (Gainsborough, Lincolnshire)


Janine
McKnight-Cowan

Kathleen Dawson. Specialist nurse at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust. For services to nursing. (Carlisle, Cumbria)

Jennifer Ladd. Emergency nurse practitioner at the minor injury unit, Cardigan Hospital. For services to the Ceredigion and Hywel Dda University Health Board. (Llangoedmor, Ceredigion)

Anne Brown Russell. Formerly chair of Sheffield Health Action Resource for Ethiopia. For services to nursing and to health leadership in Ethiopia. (Edinburgh)

Janine McKnight-Cowan. Formerly Queen's Nurse at Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust. For services to nursing. (Swadlincote, Derbyshire)

Royal Red Cross

Lt Col Jayne Cumming. Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps

Allied Rapid Reaction Corps

Sgt Colodia Muzvidziwa. Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps


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