GPs rewarded in Queen’s New Year Honours

A number of members of the primary care community have been recognised in this year’s New Year Honours.

A total of five current and former GPs made the list, while other members of the primary care community were also singled out.

Their titles were granted for services to general practice; the NHS; local healthcare; and care of veterans.

Professor Roger Hugh Jones, consulting editor of the British Journal of General Practice, achieved an OBE for services to general practice in the London region.

Similarly, Dr Amir Hannan of Haughton Thornley Medical Centre, received an MBE for services to the profession in Hyde and Haughton Green, Greater Manchester. He described feeling ‘honoured and humbled’ at the nod, and thanked his family, patients and colleagues for their support.

Dr Hannan took over Harold Shipman’s former practice early in his career, with the practice’s new aim to: ‘regain the trust and confidence of the patients, as far as anyone can’.

Dr Anand Chitnis, clinical director of North Solihull PCN and GP at West Bromwich’s The Castle Practice, was given an MBE for his services to the NHS, mental health and disabilities within the West Midlands region. Taking to Twitter, he shared how the result reflected on the ‘wonderful’ staff within the NHS.

Former Labour MP Dr Paul Williams, a GP who represented the Stockton South constituency until 2019, was awarded an OBE for services to Parliament and healthcare in the area.

In Edinburgh, former army GP Dr Beverly Bergman was rewarded with an OBE for her services to veterans across Scotland.

Also recognised were Dr Linda Harris, chair of NHS England’s  health and justice clinical reference group, for services to the NHS. West Yorkshire-based Dr Harris is also known for being the medical director of the RCGP’s substance misuse and associated health training unit.

The nursing aspect of primary care did not go unnoticed either, with Elizabeth Corrigan, practice nurse and professional lead facilitator at NHS Black Country and West Birmingham CCGs, identified for services to nursing during the time of Covid-19, particularly in Wolverhampton.