Two Queen’s Nurses receive MBE in New Year’s Honours List

Two Queen’s Nurses have been honoured with the MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.

Manjit Darby and Cathy Ryan were among the select group of nursing professionals who received honours, including Queen’s Nurse Elizabeth Alderton who received the British Empire Medal for services to nursing.

Manjit Darby MBE

Manjit Darby is Director of nursing leadership and quality, Midlands region, NHS England and NHS Improvement. She receives her MBE for services to nursing and patient care.

Manjit led the implementation of nurse revalidation across the Midlands and supported the national roll out. She has championed BAME nurse development and worked for many years on improving care and support for BAME patients.

Manjit said: ‘Nursing has been a central part of my life for over 30 years. I am delighted to accept this honour with thanks to the many hard-working and dedicated colleagues who make working in the NHS so worthwhile. As a British Asian woman, I am particularly proud to have been part of the amazing contribution made by Black and Minority Ethnic nurses in the NHS to care for, protect and support the most vulnerable people in society.’

Cathy Ryan MBE

Catherine Ryan MBE is the Community Matron at Sole Bay Health Centre in Reydon, Southwold, Suffolk. She is the Founder and Chair of Sole Bay Care Fund and also holds the Paul Harris Fellow award for her work with Rotary. She has been made an MBE for the impact she has made in the community through her nursing work and fundraising events.

Cathy, who has been a nurse for more than 45 years and was recently made a Queen’s Nurse said the award was one to share with the community, as ‘our community really cares and supports the work  we do as a team in order to improve the patient experience and services within our local environment.

Alongside running the unique GP-based Admiral Nurse service for carers and people living with dementia, a ‘personal crusade’ of Cathy’s, she is aiming to have the town and surrounding villages recognised as a Dementia Friendly Neighbourhood, by the Summer of  2020.

She said: ‘I’d like to thank the community and my colleagues who get behind my hare-brained ideas and constantly support me. I love that I was given the award for nursing as well as fundraising as I love my community role more now than I ever have, I work with amazingly creative teams and our practice is very much a family. I am still very passionate about my role as both nurse and a member of the community.’

Dr Crystal Oldman CBE, Chief Executive of the QNI said:

‘I am absolutely delighted that these two outstanding Queen’s Nurses have been honoured for their work and dedication. This is great recognition for community nurses, in the Year of the Nurse and Midwife.’

ENDS