Leeds' NHS and community heroes among those recognised by Queen in remarkable birthday honours

A remarkable honours list today shines a light on Leeds' NHS heroes and those who have moved mountains with extraordinary acts of kindness and goodwill.
Dr Alison Pittard, Dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care and ICU consultant Leeds Teaching Hospitals, has been awarded an OBE for services to critical care. Having spearheaded the direction of the NHS' intensive care teams, she has become the nation's public face for the specialism in the pandemic and hailed as a great leader. Image: James HardistyDr Alison Pittard, Dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care and ICU consultant Leeds Teaching Hospitals, has been awarded an OBE for services to critical care. Having spearheaded the direction of the NHS' intensive care teams, she has become the nation's public face for the specialism in the pandemic and hailed as a great leader. Image: James Hardisty
Dr Alison Pittard, Dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care and ICU consultant Leeds Teaching Hospitals, has been awarded an OBE for services to critical care. Having spearheaded the direction of the NHS' intensive care teams, she has become the nation's public face for the specialism in the pandemic and hailed as a great leader. Image: James Hardisty

There are pharmacists and council workers who stepped up under lockdown to do what they could, and healthcare workers who have been honoured for going above and beyond.

Dr Alison Jane Pittard, an intensive care consultant at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, has been heralded for nationwide leadership as Dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine.

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She is credited for spearheading the direction of intensive care medicine, and heralded for "exemplary" leadership, as well as influencing doctor training nationwide.

Dr Alison Pittard, Dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care and ICU consultant Leeds Teaching Hospitals, has been awarded an OBE for services to critical care. Image: James HardistyDr Alison Pittard, Dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care and ICU consultant Leeds Teaching Hospitals, has been awarded an OBE for services to critical care. Image: James Hardisty
Dr Alison Pittard, Dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care and ICU consultant Leeds Teaching Hospitals, has been awarded an OBE for services to critical care. Image: James Hardisty

The 55-year-old, from Collingham, said she is overwhelmed as she is awarded an OBE for services to critical care.

"After everything that everybody has been through over the last few months, it is an incredible honour," she said.

"As far as I'm concerned I've just been doing my job, as have all my colleagues around the country.

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"This represents the work of all the staff in intensive care medicine nationally, but also all the people who stepped up.

Dr Alison Pittard, Dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care and ICU consultant Leeds Teaching Hospitals, has been awarded an OBE for services to critical care. Image: James HardistyDr Alison Pittard, Dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care and ICU consultant Leeds Teaching Hospitals, has been awarded an OBE for services to critical care. Image: James Hardisty
Dr Alison Pittard, Dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care and ICU consultant Leeds Teaching Hospitals, has been awarded an OBE for services to critical care. Image: James Hardisty

"I feel incredibly humbled that I've been in some way singled out. It is an acknowledgement of all these people.

"This is always going to remind me of all those affected by Covid and all who suffered. I'm never going to forget that."

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The Chair of Leeds Teaching Hospital Linda Pollard has been awarded a Damehood for services to healthcare and the community in Northern England.

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Robert Webster, chief executive of the South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, has been awarded a CBE for services to healthcare.

And Professor Catherine Noakes, an academic from the University of Leeds who sits on the government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), has been awarded an OBE for services to the Covid-19 response.

Area branch manager at the Leeds Credit Union, Joanne Swaine, has been honoured with a British Empire Medal for services to the financial sector and community during Covid 19.

And Faisal Tuddy, pharmacy superintendent for Asda House, has been hailed as a "passionate" leader with a "laser focus" who fought to keep open 253 pharmacies through the pandemic.

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The 46-year-old, from Moortown, set up delivery services from scratch, contingency plans and collections, ensuring the most vulnerable and isolated would be served.

As he's awarded the British Empire Medal, he said he feels "honoured and humbled".

"It’s a testament to the incredible work of all our pharmacy teams in stores and the support of my head office colleagues," he said.

"They have all really pulled together to go above and beyond to look after our patients when they needed us the most."

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As the nation readies for challenging times in the months ahead, Dr Pittard has paid tribute to the efforts of all who have made a difference.

"The time we've had with Covid has been dreadful for everybody, for the healthcare workers on the frontline and for those who have suffered," she said.

"We have made such advances, we are now where we would have been in 10 years time.

"It doesn't matter what your title is, what your job is, we were all in it together."

Additional honours

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Among those from Leeds recognised in the Queen's birthday honours are;

Robert Semple, former chair of the National Conservative Convention, awarded a CBE for political service.

Johnathan Bates, analytical team leader at the Department of Health and Social Care, awarded an OBE for public service.

Lilian Black, chair of Holocaust Survivors Friendship Association, has been awarded an OBE for services to holocaust education.

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Professor Sheena Radford, Astbury Professor of Biophysics at the University of Leeds, has been awarded an OBE for services to Molecular Biology Research.

Farrah Khan, head of service delivery for Leeds Children's Services, has been awarded an MBE for services to children and families.

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