New year honours list 2025: the nurses recognised
Posted 30 December 2024 - 22:30
Nurses from across the UK named in the King’s honours list for their outstanding leadership, clinical care and commitment to patients and the profession
in roles across the profession
Almost two dozen nurses have been recognised in the King’s 2025 new year honours list for their outstanding commitment to patients and the profession, as the fight for better pay and working conditions continues.
The past year has proved to be another difficult one for nursing in many repects, with ongoing pay disputes, workplace pressures, staffing issues and reports of burnout.
But despite the challenges, nursing staff continue to demonstrate leadership and excellence in clinical care, with those working in dementia and palliative care, leadership roles, pain services and mental healthcare among individuals recognised in the awards.
OBE for services to nursing: ‘My 18-year-old student self would have been incredulous’
receives an OBE
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (ICHT) consultant nurse Gillian Chumbley receives an OBE for services to nursing.
Dr Chumbley has worked in the NHS for more than 45 years, 20 of which have been spent at ICHT. She followed in her mother’s footsteps to become a nurse, starting out as a student at St Thomas’ Hospital in 1978 and eventually becoming a nurse consultant at ICHT in 2007.
‘I feel incredibly proud to receive this honour and the recognition is a wonderful way to mark my long career,’ Dr Chumbley said. ‘It would not have been possible without the many brilliant and generous colleagues who have given me support and encouragement throughout.
‘I cannot help but wonder what 18-year-old Gill would have thought on her first day as a student nurse at St Thomas’ Hospital if she’d been told that she would achieve this. She would have been incredulous.’
Indian Nurses Association founder
and chair, receives an MBE
MBE for support to international nurses: ‘There is still a lot more to do to’
British Indian Nurses Association founder and chair Marimouttou Coumarassamy, who is deputy chief operating officer at Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, receives an MBE for services to supporting international nurses.
Mr Coumarassamy qualified as a nurse in India in 1994 and moved to the UK in 2003. Speaking about his award, he said: ‘I am delighted and humbled to be in His Majesty’s new year honours list. All Glory to God.
‘There is still a lot more to do to support, educate and mentor our members, as we fight discrimination for Indian nurses. I remain committed in our efforts to contribute more and continue to uplift communities.
‘I dedicate this award to past and present Indian nurses who have made huge sacrifices for the NHS.’
BEM for services to nursing: ‘A reflection of the remarkable patients and colleagues I have worked with’
receives a BEM
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Admiral Nurse Asma Pandor receives a BEM for services to nursing.
Ms Pandor was inspired to become a nurse after seeing the ‘compassion, care and empathy’ nurses offered her father, who had cancer. She became the trust’s first Admiral Nurse in 2020, making a ‘profound and lasting impact’ on the lives of patients with dementia and their families, according to the trust.
She said of her award: ‘It goes without saying that being recognised in this way today is a great honour. I regard everything that I have achieved in my career as a reflection of the remarkable patients, families and colleagues that I have worked alongside.’
McMahon receives a CBE
CBE for Scotland’s former CNO
Former chief nursing officer (CNO) for Scotland Alex McMahon receives a CBE for services to nursing in Scotland.
Professor McMahon qualified as a mental health nurse in 1986 and a registered general nurse three years later.
During his career, he worked in the private sector, the NHS and the Scottish government, becoming CNO in December 2021 and playing a key role in the nation’s nursing and midwifery taskforce.
He retired in April 2024, describing being Scotland’s CNO as a ‘great privilege’.
BEM for services to people with mental illness: ‘Team’s hard work, determination and passion made this possible’
Dale receives a BEM
Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT) mental health nurse Kate (Catherine) Dale receives a BEM for services to people with severe mental illness.
Ms Dale has worked in the NHS for 45 years, with the trust saying her career has been ‘marked by unwavering commitment and a pioneering spirit’.
She said: ‘There is no health without mental health and physical health; we need to look at patients holistically and not segregate the two.
‘This recognition is not just for me, but for the entire team at BDCFT whose hard work, determination and passion have made this possible.’
MBE for services to nursing: ‘A renewed call to continue championing equity and inclusion’
stakeholder engagement advisory
group member Jacynth Ivey receives
an MBE
NHS Race and Health Observatory stakeholder engagement advisory group member Jacynth Ivey receives an MBE for services to nursing.
Ms Ivey trained as a nurse, midwife and health visitor, and is now an award-winning transformational coach. She credits her training for being able to work with people from different backgrounds.
She said: ‘I am deeply humbled to accept this honour. It serves as both a recognition of the incredible individuals and communities who have supported me throughout my journey, and as a renewed call to continue championing equity, inclusion, and better health outcomes for all.’
The RCN praised the ‘tireless dedication’ of all the nurses recognised in the new year honours.
RCN president Sheilabye Sobrany said: ‘Congratulations to all those in health and care who have been recognised in the new year honours. Your work and tireless dedication to nursing and your patients act as an inspiration to all of us.
‘All those honoured today should be proud of what you do in representing the very best of the profession.’
The nurses named in the 2025 new year honours list
The following nurses are among more than 1,200 people to be recognised in the new year honours this year.
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Professor Alexander McMahon, retired chief nursing officer, Scotland. For services to nursing in Scotland.
Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Dr Gillian Chumbley, consultant nurse, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. For services to nursing.
Ann Gow, director, nursing and systems improvement and deputy chief executive, Healthcare Improvement Scotland. For services to nursing in Scotland.
Deirdre Webb, assistant director of nursing – public health, children and young people, Northern Ireland Public Health Agency. For services to women, children and families in Northern Ireland.
Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Matilda Asante-Owusu, sickle cell community matron, Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Centre, Whittington Health NHS Trust. For services to nursing.
Jennifer Caguioa, former international recruitment and ethnic minorities nurse advisor, NHS England, and former head of Global Florence Nightingale Foundation. For services to nursing.
Marimouttou Coumarassamy, deputy chief operating officer, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, and British Indian Nurses Association founder and chair. For services to supporting international nurses.
Jacynth Ivey, stakeholder engagement advisory group member, NHS Race and Health Observatory. For services to nursing.
Edwin Ndlovu, chief operating officer and deputy chief executive, East London NHS Foundation Trust. For services to the NHS and to nursing.
Zoe Packman, deputy director, nursing service delivery, transformation and resilience, NHS England. For services to nursing.
Order of the British Empire (BEM)
Dr Marion Andrews-Evans, former executive chief nurse, NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board. For services to nursing, health and care services.
Margaret Clark, emergency laparotomy nurse specialist, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. For services to the NHS in Scotland.
Catherine Dale, mental health nurse, Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust. For services to people with severe mental illness.
Rebecca Daniels, community children’s matron, UK Community Children’s Nurses Network chair, and children’s community nursing project lead at the Queen’s Nursing Institute. For services to clinically vulnerable and complex children and young people.
Lorraine Gibson, nurse, social worker and area manager, Northern Health and Social Care Trust. For services to older people with dementia and adults with learning disabilities in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Philippa Jones, board member, UK Acute Oncology Society. For services to oncology.
Asma Pandor, lead Admiral Nurse, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. For services to nursing.
Lesley Rutherford, nurse consultant, Marie Curie, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and Queen’s University Belfast. For services to palliative care patients.
Carol Ann Sproule. For services to nursing and to the community in Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland.
Diplomatic service – Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Ergate Ayana, retired nurse and founder of Fighting Blindness in Ethiopia. For services to eye care in Ethiopia.
Grenada – Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)
Marica Sonia Jones. For services to nursing.
Royal Red Cross
Lt Cdr Kim Cockcroft, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service. Ordinary Associate, Second Class.
Lt Cdr Katie Romanowska, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service. King’s Commendation for Valuable Service.
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