Pioneering practice nurse among those recognised with New Year Honours

Nurses and midwives – including a pioneering general practice nurse – are among the more than 1,150 people recognised on the King’s New Year Honours List for 2026.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) said the honours highlight the ‘dedication, skill and compassion’ that defines nursing, while the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) described seeing nurses among those awarded as a ‘moment of great pride’.

Among the recipients was Staffordshire Training Hub general practice nurse facilitator and Queen’s Nurse Gill Boast, who was made a member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her services to primary care nursing.

Ms Boast is renowned for her work in developing the General Practice Nursing Foundation School – a pioneering initiative to embed high-quality practice-based learning for nurses in GP practices across Staffordshire – of which she is the training programme lead.

Following her New Year Honour, Ms Boast told Nursing in Practice: ‘It is such an honour to be nominated for an MBE for services to primary care nursing and it has been a complete surprise. I am absolutely delighted and would like to express my gratitude to my nominees, my colleagues and my family for all their support.’

She added: ‘Nursing is a fabulous career, and it has offered me so many opportunities over the years, but this is the greatest highlight for me.  I am so grateful to have worked in some wonderful teams with so many inspirational colleagues who have helped me along the way.’

Ms Boast paid tribute to the ‘vital NHS work’ carried out by general practice nurses and the importance of the role in delivering the government’s 10-year plan for the health service.

‘I hope that this award will shine a light on primary care nursing and on the importance of a recognised training programme for all general practice nurses,’ she added.

Simon Whitehouse, chief executive for the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board where Ms Boast works, said this was a ‘remarkable and thoroughly well-deserved achievement’.

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‘Having shown such strong commitment to both patients and improving community nursing over so many years, she is a leading voice in her field, hugely respected by colleagues and we are delighted she is part of our team in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent,’ he said.

Ms Boast, who has been a nurse for 47 years and has spent 27 years working in general practice, also recently spoke to Nursing in Practice about her career, achievements and the difference GPNs make as part of our How Nurses Count campaign.

Another practice nurse, Jacqueline Whitnell of Lime Tree Primary Care Practice was also among those named in the New Years Honours. Ms Whitnell was made a medallist of the Order of the British Empire for services to the NHS and to higher education.

Also among the honours recipients was Northern Ireland’s chief nursing officer (CNO), Professor Maria McIlgorm, who was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to nursing and midwifery.

Professor McIlgorm has over 40 years’ experience in nursing across community and hospital settings, in professional, operational and strategic roles and has been the CNO since 2022.

She said she was ‘delighted to be awarded’ and ‘humbled and thankful to colleagues I have worked with over the course of my career’.

‘It is a privilege and an honour to have served as the chief nursing officer for Northern Ireland for the last four years. I am proud to have worked as both a nurse and midwife throughout my career and to have worked alongside so many dedicated and committed teams and individuals who do so much for so many, often beyond the call of duty.’

Meanwhile, Michelle Cox, nurse and race equality consultant, was also awarded an MBE for her services to nursing and patient outcomes.

Ms Cox, who is also an RCN fellow, made history in 2023 after winning a landmark race discrimination case against the NHS. The ruling found Ms Cox had faced discrimination, harassment and victimisation from her employer, and that her whistleblowing claims about her employer had not been upheld after she raised a grievance and appeal.

She has since gone on to campaign for race equality across the health service, including by working with the RCN Foundation charity to launch the Michelle Cox RCN Foundation Anti-Racism Award which aims to recognise nurse-led projects working to oppose racism and promote racial equality.

RCN President Bejoy Sebastian said it was an ‘incredibly significant moment to see RCN fellow Michelle Cox recognised for her services to nursing and patients’.

‘After winning a landmark race discrimination case against the NHS, she has gone on to campaign tirelessly for race equality across our health service, for both staff and those who access care. Her honour is great news in the fight against racism.’

RCN Foundation director Deepa Korea was also awarded an MBE for her services to nursing and midwifery.

Mr Sebastian said he was ‘particularly delighted’ to see Ms Korea recognised.

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‘Her work and that of the organisation changes lives, supporting nursing staff through hardship, funding education and research opportunities and initiatives to improve patient care,’ he said.

Ms Korea said she was ‘grateful and humbled to receive this recognition’.

‘The award is a reflection of the achievements and contributions of the people, communities and organisations that I have had the privilege of working with throughout my career,’ she added.

‘More than anything, this award is a recognition of the importance of the ongoing work of the RCN Foundation, and its commitment to supporting and strengthening nursing and midwifery.’

RCN president Mr Sebastian congratulated all those recognised by the King.

‘Nursing is an incredible profession and seeing those working in it being honoured is a moment of great pride,’ he said.

He added that all those honoured ‘represent the very best in nursing and are an inspiration to us all’.

NMC chair of the council, Ron Barclay-Smith also passed on his congratulations.

‘It’s wonderful to see the outstanding contributions of nursing and midwifery professionals across the UK recognised in the New Year Honours List.

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‘These honours highlight the dedication, skill and compassion that define the professions and make such a difference to people’s lives.’

NMC chief executive Paul Rees added: ‘As we head into the New Year, it’s inspiring to see some of the leading lights of the nursing and midwifery professions honoured for their exceptional service, including Chief Nursing Officer Professor Maria McIlgorm, whose OBE highlights her role in strengthening nursing and midwifery practice in Northern Ireland.

‘On behalf of the NMC, I want to offer our heartfelt congratulations and thank all of them for their unwavering dedication to the professions and to health and care.’

To see the full list of those honoured, click here