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Nurses and midwives named in Queen’s Birthday Honours

Profession’s achievements recognised by the Queen
Yvonne Coghill

NHS England’s director of the workforce race equality standard Yvonne Coghill has been made a Commander of the British Empire for her services to racial equality in the NHS.

She is among the nurses to be named in the 2018 Queen's Birthday Honours.


Yvonne Coghill.
Picture: Tim George

In a statement Ms Coghill said: ‘I feel honoured and humbled to be recognised for the work I love doing in an organisation that is the best in the world.

‘However, without the dedicated, hardworking and fabulous people I have had the pleasure to work with over many years, this would not have been possible.’

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust advanced nurse practitioner, Katherine Bird has been made a Member of the British Empire.

Ms Bird was honoured for her work with vulnerable young women and thanked colleagues for all their work.

‘I dedicate this award to everyone in our team and to the young people we care for,’ she said.

‘Seeing the young people make progress in their recovery is the reward in itself.’

'I always wanted to be a nurse. I thought it was a really nice job where you are able to help people. A lot has changed in my career, but that hasn’t.’

Kathryn Halford, nurse of 36 years who receives the OBE


Kathryn Halford

Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust chief nurse Kathryn Halford received an Order of the British Empire.

Ms Halford, who has worked as nurse for 36 years, was honoured for her services to nursing and said although much has changed in that time, one aspect had not.

‘After watching Angels, a TV series about nursing, I always wanted to be a nurse,’ she said.  

‘I thought it was a really nice job where you are able to help people. A lot has changed in my career, but that hasn’t.’

Outside the nursing profession, Jonathan Ridd receives the British Empire Medal for his services to care standards for patients with learning disabilities in Wales.

Following the death of his brother, Paul, in 2009, Mr Ridd and his family campaigned to improve NHS care for people with learning disabilities.


Jonathan Ridd

RCN Nurse of the Year 2017 Melanie Davies was inspired by the family to transform care for people with learning disabilities on her ward and health board in South Wales, and encouraged others to follow suit across the country.

Honoured for services to nursing and midwifery

CBE – Commander of the British Empire

Yvonne Coghill, OBE Director, Workforce Race Equality Standard Implementation, NHS England. For services to Race Equality in the NHS. For services to racial equality in the NHS.


Janice Sigsworth.
Picture: Charles Milligan

Janice Sigsworth Executive director of Nursing Imperial College Healthcare Trust, London. For services to nursing.

Jill Hunter Professor of midwifery, Cardiff University. For services to midwifery and to midwifery education in the UK and Europe.

OBE – Order of the British Empire

Veronica Donovan Consultant midwife for foetal medicine, Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust. For services to midwifery.

Kathryn Ann Halford Chief nurse, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust. For services to nursing. 

Roger Kline Formerly head of strategy and delivery, NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard, NHS England. For services to equality in the NHS.

Lt Col Kimberly Anne McCutcheon Formerly commanding officer, First Aid Nursing Yeomanry. For services to the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry and emergency response in London. 

Allison Cook Ramsay Formerly lead nurse, learning disabilities, NHS Forth Valley. For services to learning disability nursing. 

Laura Maria Serrant Professor of nursing, Sheffield Hallam University. For services to health policy. 

MBE – Member of the British Empire


Katharine Bird

Katharine Bird Advanced nurse practitioner, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. For services to vulnerable teenagers. 

Sarah Charters Consultant nurse, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. For services to vulnerable adults. 

Mairi Anna Chrystal Head, stroke nurse and therapist service, Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland. For services to stroke patients in Scotland. 

Janice Clarke For services to health and social care and to the community in Northern Ireland.

Alexandra Cotton Mental health nurse street triage team, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust. For services to mental health. 

Anne Marie Colette Ferguson Director of nursing midwifery and allied health professions, NHS Education for Scotland. For services to health education and training. 

Sarah Fiona Haughey Formerly executive director nursing and quality, Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust. For services to nursing. 

Alison Kathryn Hopkins Chief executive, Accelerate Community Interest Company. For services to nursing. 

Gaynor Ann Jones Senior staff nurse, Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil and chair, Royal College of Nursing Welsh Board. For services to the nursing profession in Wales.


Sarah Charters.
Picture: David Gee

Sally Kendall Professor community nursing and public health, University of Kent. For services to nursing and to research. 

Helen Margaret Laverty Professional lead for learning disability nursing, University of Nottingham. For services to nursing especially people and families with learning disabilities. 

Judith Joy Mewburn For services to nursing in the developing world.

Anne-Maria Newham Director, nursing, allied health professionals and quality, Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. For services to nursing. 

Gillian Mary Robinson Formerly consultant nurse for acquired brain injuries, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. For services to children's nursing.

Mahesh Seewoodhary Senior lecturer, adult nursing, University of West London. For services to opthalmology nurse training and to sickle cell awareness.


Helen Laverty.
Picture: David Gee

Moya Denise Elizabeth Sutton Director, Education and Partnerships, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust. For services to nursing. 

Nelson Thoa For services to nursing and to the community.

BEM – British Empire Medal

Susan Lewis Paediatric epilepsy specialist nurse, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust. For services to nursing. 

Nicola Parry Associate director of nursing and head of midwifery, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. For services to midwifery. 

Agimol Pradeep Volunteer nurse, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. For services to organ donation.

Alison Pugh Clinical nurse manager, Royal Gwent Hospital. For services to haematology and cancer care. 

Mary Anne Richardson District nursing sister, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust. For services to patient care. 

Jonathan James Ridd For services to care standards for patients with learning disabilities in Wales.

Debra Elizabeth Smith Manager, Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Wythenshawe Hospital. For services to nursing.

Marie Louise Tait Healthcare assistant, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust. For services to older and mentally ill patients. 

Royal Red Cross

Maj Karen Dorothy Jamieson Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps

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