Lechlade nurse who played role in Covid-19 vaccine programme awarded MBE

Professor Steve Hams, chief nurse at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, was given the award in the New Year Honours List for services to the NHS and nursing.

As the senior leader for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals at the Trust, Steve introduced the internationally acclaimed Nursing and Midwifery excellence programme, which promotes innovation and improvement and places emphasis on shared decision-making and collective leadership.

Steve is also passionate about diversity and inclusion, supporting colleagues at all levels and championing the promotion of nurses from ethnic minorities into senior nursing leadership positions.

He started the Trust’s first LGBTQ Diversity Network, launching the Rainbow Lanyard for colleagues to identify themselves as LGBTQ allies. This is now nationally used throughout NHS Trusts.

Steve said: “It goes without saying that being recognised in this way today is a great honour.

"I regard everything that I have achieved in my career as a reflection of the remarkable nurses and other colleagues that I have worked alongside. In healthcare, teamwork is everything.

“During the past two years, the pandemic has highlighted the valuable contribution nurses bring to expertly caring for our patients, and I couldn’t be prouder of our nurses and the wider team, we all owe a huge debt of gratitude to their unwavering commitment in the face of adversity.”

Steve was Gloucestershire’s senior responsible officer for the Covid-19 vaccination programme, saying on the recent anniversary: “I was privileged and proud to lead this programme for Gloucestershire. A year ago, the vaccine brought us hope amidst the devastation and sadness of COVID-19 and since then, so many lives have been saved.”

Chief Executive Deborah Lee said: “I am delighted to see this national recognition of Steve's efforts and commitment; both for his extraordinary leadership of the vaccination programme and for the huge contribution he has made as the lead for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals at our Trust.

"His energy and dedication to the nursing profession continues to inspire and motivate everyone he comes into contact with."