More than 20 nurses, from all corners of the profession, have been recognised in the King’s inaugural birthday honours since he was crowned.
Army nursing, social care, academia, school nursing, homeless health, palliative care and other parts of nursing were recognised in the 2023 list.
“Congratulations to all the nursing and healthcare staff who have been recognised in the King’s birthday honours”
Sheilabye Sobrany
Unveiled on Friday night, the King’s list awards hundreds of people with state honours indicating they have made huge contributions to society.
Of those recognised, more than 20 were in the field of nursing.
Registered nurse Jane De Groot was made a Medalist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM).
Ms De Groot was awarded her BEM for services to nursing, in her role as a school nurse at Woldingham School, Caterham, in Surrey.
Another nurse recognised with a BEM was David Harling, deputy director of learning disability nursing at NHS England, for his contributions to the NHS, people with learning disabilities, autistic people and their families.
Mr Harling, based in the North East of England, has previously featured in Nursing Times for his campaign work for better learning disability nursing care, and actions to improve recruitment and retention in the specialty.
Sherree Fagge, head of nursing for palliative and end-of-life care at NHS England, was another nurse leader handed a BEM by the King for her services to healthcare.
Ms Fagge has served in the NHS for almost 50 years, and in her NHS England role is responsible for leading the direction of the end-of-life nursing profession.
Deputy associate director of nursing at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, Louie Horne, was among the others awarded a BEM in the list.
Ms Horne, who is also a clinical research fellow at the NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES), has previously written for Nursing Times about the impact of racism on the workforce.
In a recent article, Ms Horne wrote about the need for better accountability in the NHS at a senior level for racism in the workplace.
Meanwhile, Zoë Fry, director of The Outstanding Society and registered nurse, recieved an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to social care and nursing.
After a career as a care assistant, Ms Fry trained as a nurse before leading care homes herself and, in 2015, her care home Valerie Manor became the first in West Sussex to receive an ‘outstanding’ rating.
Since 2021, she has focused on her work with The Outstanding Society, a community interest company (CIC) for leaders of outstanding-rated care providers to share resources and support the improvement of care across England.
Commenting on the King’s birthday honours, Royal College of Nursing (RCN) president, Sheilabye Sobrany, said: “Congratulations to all the nursing and healthcare staff who have been recognised in the King’s birthday honours. They should be enormously proud of their achievements.
“They represent the skill and dedication of all those in the profession who continue to step up for their patients every day of the week while facing continuing challenges and pressures.”
As well as nurses practising in care homes, schools, hospitals and other settings, nurses in the armed forces were also recognised in the King’s birthday honours.
Defence secretary Ben Wallace said: “Congratulations to the service personnel who are receiving state honours from His Majesty The King, in his first Birthday honours list.
“These prestigious awards are testament to the talent and dedication of our armed forces, and highlight the huge range of skills and talents across our brave personnel.”
Nurses named in the 2023 King’s birthday honours list
The recipients listed below are those whose listing mentioned the words ‘nurse’ or ‘nursing’
Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Zoe Jane Fry
Director, The Outstanding Society. For services to social care and nursing (Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex)
Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Hayley Karen Citrine
Lately chief nurse North West, NHS England. For services to nursing (Sale, Greater Manchester)
Brenda Rivera Agon Deocampo
Ward manager, acute medicine, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. For services to nursing (London, Greater London)
Barbara Ann Johnson
Director of nursing, Risedale Estates Ltd. For services to social care. (Barrow in Furness, Cumbira)
Dr Gary George Ernest Mitchell
Senior lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen’s University Belfast. For services to nursing and dementia care (Newtownards, County Down)
Professor Christine Susan Norton
Professor of clinical nursing research, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care, King’s College London. For services to nursing research (Amersham, Buckinghamshire)
Elizabeth Anne Rix
Chief nurse, Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust. For services to nursing leadership (Swansea, West Glamorgan)
Kendra Amelia Schneller
Homeless and inclusion health programme lead, Queen’s Nursing Institute, and nurse practitioner, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. For services to homeless and inclusion health nursing (London, Greater London)
Catherine Annette Shaw
Lead advanced nurse practitioner, NHS Highland. For services to nursing in rural Scotland (Helmsdale, Sutherland)
Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)
Catherine Bailey
Lately nurse director for musculoskeletal services, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. For services to nursing (Sheffield, South Yorkshire)
Christine Ann Culleton
Lately community nurse, Aneurin Bevan Health Board. For services to the NHS in South East Wales (Pontypool, Gwent)
Jane De Groot
School nurse, Woldingham School, Caterham, Surrey. For services to nursing (Camberley, Surrey)
Barbara Ann Ewart
Lately public health nurse. For services to the community in Northern Ireland (Belfast, City of Belfast)
Sherree Fagge
Head of nursing palliative and end of life care, NHS England. For services to healthcare (Haywards Heath, West Sussex)
David Harling
Deputy director, learning disability nursing, NHS England. For services to the NHS, people with learning disabilities, and to autistic people and their families (Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire)
Louie Carullo Horne
Deputy associate director of nursing, East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust and NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard clinical research fellow. For services to nursing (Ipswich, Suffolk)
Lynette Kennedy
Nurse consultant, learning disability, Camden Learning Disability Service, London Borough of Camden. For services to people with learning disabilities (London, Greater London)
Ann Elizabeth Norman
Lately professional lead for criminal justice and learning disabilities, Royal College of Nursing. For services to healthcare access (Southampton, Hampshire)
Paul Martin Reeves
Head of nursing for education and new roles, NHS England. For services to nursing (Staines-Upon-Thames, Surrey)
Ernest Reginald Telford
For services to the Somme Nursing Home, Belfast during Covid-19 (Belfast, City of Belfast)
Royal Red Cross
As an Ordinary Member of the Royal Red Cross, First Class
Commander Karen McCullough
Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service
As an Ordinary Associate of the Royal Red Cross, Second Class
Staff Sergeant Lindsey Anne Collinson
Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps
Army Awards
As members
Warrant Officer Class 1 Robbie George Beech
Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps