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The nurses and midwives named in the Queen’s Birthday honours 2019

Leaders in clinical care, research, education and nursing management among those recognised
Alison Leary

Leaders in clinical care, research, education and nursing management among those recognised


London South Bank University chair of healthcare and workforce modelling Alison Leary
is among the nurses made an MBE in the ho​​​nours. Picture: David Gee

The response to the Novichok poisonings in Salisbury, cancer care and improving safety at football matches are just some of the nursing actions recognised in this year’s Queen’s Birthday honours list.


Cara Charles-Barks MBE.

Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Cara Charles-Barks was honoured with an MBE for her leadership following the 2018 nerve agent attack. 

Ms Charles-Barks began her career as a nurse in Australia in 1990, and said the award reflected the work of all staff at the trust during the incident.

‘Each of our staff played a part in keeping the hospital open and running smoothly through the first nerve agent attack on European soil since the second world war and the longest-running major incident in the NHS’s 70-year history,’ she said.

Football spectator safety

London South Bank University chair of healthcare and workforce modelling Alison Leary was made an MBE for her work remodelling crowd medical services in the English Football League.

Professor Leary said she was delighted to be honoured, adding: ‘I’ve worked with a fantastic team who’ve been committed to improving safety for spectators over the past 20 years.

‘It’s nice that the importance of evidence-based practice has been recognised.’


Laura Lee DBE, a nurse and chief executive of cancer charity Maggie’s.
Picture: Thomas Alexander Photography

Cancer care centres

Laura Lee, nurse and chief executive of cancer charity Maggie’s, was made a dame for services to patients with cancer.

The charity was the vision of Maggie Keswick Jencks, who lived with advanced cancer for two years before she died in 1995. Ms Lee, her nurse and friend, continues her work. Maggie’s provides emotional support for patients with cancer, and their families, through dedicated centres at NHS hospitals. 

Ms Lee said she hoped the accolade would aid the charity’s work: ‘I hope this award means that more people hear about us and come to our centres to get the support they need.’

‘Outstanding work’

Macmillan Cancer Support clinical lead for the east of England Cancer Alliance Tonia Dawson was awarded an OBE for services to nursing and to people affected by cancer.

Ms Dawson was the first Macmillan primary care nurse in the UK and Macmillan’s first primary care adviser.

Macmillan’s head of services in the south and east of England, Gwyneth Tyler, said: ‘It’s very much deserved and great recognition of her outstanding work as a professional, her compassion as a person, and the difference that she makes to the lives of patients with cancer day in, day out.

‘Tonia puts her heart and soul into helping people and she’s had a tremendous impact.’

‘Honoured and humbled’


Wendy Johnson was awarded the 
British Empire Medal.

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust head of safeguarding adults at risk and nursing lead for learning disabilities Wendy Johnson received a British Empire Medal for her work with some of the most vulnerable people the NHS serves.

Ms Johnson, who writes a regular column for RCNi journal Learning Disability Practice, has worked to transform the care of people with dementia, and learning disabilities and/or autism, by adapting wards to cater for their needs, and providing specialist education and training for staff.

She said she was ‘honoured and humbled’ to receive the award, and thanked her colleagues who have helped improve the care experience for vulnerable patients.

‘It’s great to have an opportunity to put nursing in the spotlight and to talk about the difference we can all make,’ she added. 

RCN general secretary Dame Donna Kinnair said: 'Nurses do so much to serve the public working within the NHS, community services, mental health services, and the armed forces.

It’s wonderful to see this work being honoured today and the work of former nurses who’ve gone into influential senior positions such Cara Ann Charles-Bark who as Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust chief executive dealt with the fallout of the Novichok poisoning incident in the city.

'I extend my warmest congratulations to all the nurses who’ve made a difference in diverse clinical areas that make a real impact on the lives of patients like organ donation and cancer treatment. They stand as an inspiration to their colleagues everywhere and, I hope, to young people who are considering a career in nursing.'

Honoured for services to nursing and midwifery

CBE

Group Capt Teresa Anne Griffiths, OBE, ARRC Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Service.

 DBE – Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Laura Lee Chief executive of Maggie’s. For services to patients with cancer.

OBE 

Maureen Bell Formerly nurse consultant for vulnerable children at NHS Ayrshire and Arran. For services to child protection.


Sarah Hewlett OBE.

Tonia Dawson Macmillan clinical lead for east of England Cancer Alliance. For services to nursing and to people affected by cancer.

Judith Ellis, MBE Chair of trustees, Tropical Health and Education Trust, and former chief executive, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. For services to healthcare. 

Sarah Hewlett Emeritus professor of rheumatology nursing at University of the West of England. For services to people with arthritis and to nursing research.

Jacqueline McKenna, MBE Former director of nursing, professional leadership at NHS Improvement. For services to nursing.

MBE 

Shibu Chacko Specialist nurse at NHS Blood and Transplant and community volunteer. For services to the NHS.

Cara Charles-Barks Chief executive of Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. For services to the NHS.

Rita Ciccu Moore Deputy director of nursing at NHS Forth Valley. For services to nursing and to the NHS Forth Valley Nurses Choir.


Jacqueline McKenna received an OBE.

Liz Darlison Consultant nurse at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and head of services, Mesothelioma UK. For services to cancer research and to patients.

Kathryn Ellaway Former designated nurse for safeguarding at National Safeguarding Team. For services to safeguarding in Wales.

Jacqueline Gerrard. Formerly director the Royal College of Midwives. For services to women and to midwifery.

Alison Leary Chair of healthcare and workforce modelling at London South Bank University. For services to spectator safety and medical care.

Julieth Minnis Nurse. For services to health.

Philippa Nightingale Chief nurse and executive director of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and trustee of Rennie Grove Hospice Care. For services to midwifery.

Suzanne Louise Poley Consultant nurse for substance misuse at University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff. For services to nursing.


Suzanne Louise Poley MBE.
Picture: Jay Williams

Gillian Claire Taylor Macmillan nurse consultant at London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust. For services to colorectal cancer nursing.

Ruth Walker Executive nurse director at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. For services to nursing in the NHS.

Janis Wright Specialist nurse in orthopaedics at Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust. For services to nursing.

BEM – British Empire Medal

Winifred Taggart Chinery Nurse at Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. For services to nursing and to patient safety.

Patricia Clarke Diabetes specialist nurse at Primary Integrated Community Services Ltd. For services to diabetes care.

Jean Dunn Nurse at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust. For services to nursing.

Wendy Johnson Head of safeguarding adults at risk and nursing lead for learning disabilities at Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. For services to nursing. 

Alison Kitson District nurse at Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. For services to nursing.

Kathleen Lee Nurse at Medident, Muscat, Oman. For services to the health and welfare of British nationals overseas.

Karen Mitchell Lead cancer nurse at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. For services to patients with cancer and to nursing.

Mary Nunn Former nursing officer at the Tiverton division of St John Ambulance. For voluntary services to first aid provision in Devon.

Emily Robertson Ward sister for older people’s care, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. For services to nursing.

Royal Red Cross

Lt Col Deborah Inglis, TD VR Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps, Army Reserve.

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