WIREDGOV

In the Queen’s Birthday Honours, we are delighted to say that the following staff from Public Health Wales have been made Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for efforts in the COVID-19 response: 

• Dr Eleri Davies, Head of Healthcare Associated Infection, Antimicrobial Resistance and Prescribing Programme (HARP), Public Health Wales
• Dr Robin Howe, Professional Lead Consultant in Microbiology, Public Health Wales  
• Gail Lusardi, Nurse Consultant, Public Health Wales 
• Dr Catherine Moore, Consultant Clinical Scientist, Wales Specialist Virology Centre, and Head of Molecular Service Development, Public Health Wales 

Dr Eleri Davies recently said:

“I was very surprised and humbled to receive the news that I have been awarded an MBE for the COVID-19 response. It has been such a difficult time for so many and I have just been doing my job supporting the response in Wales as part of the Public Health Wales and wider NHS service in Wales.

“The team here in Public Health Wales has been working tirelessly, and I wish to dedicate this honour to them and to my family, who have supported me throughout. This is our job and it’s what we train for, but being recognised in this way feels very special – Diolch.”

Dr Robin Howe recently said:

“I was shocked, and immensely proud when I heard I had been awarded an MBE.

“I know I’ve worked hard over the last many months of COVID, but I also know that the whole microbiology team across Wales have been working long hours and long weeks, under huge pressure to deliver high-quality testing. Pathology services, such as Microbiology, are the often-neglected ‘back-room’ specialists that underpin much of NHS activity, and I’m so pleased to accept this award as recognition of our whole team effort.”

Dr Catherine Moore recently said:

“I’m thrilled to receive an MBE but like everyone else in this pandemic, I have just been doing my job as I’ve always done throughout my career.  

“I’m dedicating my MBE to my family who haven’t seen me properly since January and everyone who I work with across Public Health Wales, especially in the Specialist Virology Centre in Cardiff. Their ongoing positivity and resilience throughout what has been an often difficult time for the laboratory team continues to inspire me.”

Jan Williams, Chair of the Board and Tracey Cooper, Chief Executive recently said:

“We are so very proud of all of our people in Public Health Wales and today, we’re especially proud of Eleri, Robin, Gail and Catherine and the professionalism, leadership, dedication and sacrifice they have shown in the response to COVID-19. Many of our people have gone above and beyond over the last few months, and continue to do so every day, and it’s wonderful to see Eleri, Robin, Gail and Catherine being recognised as representatives of the whole organisation. 

“On behalf of the rest of the Executive Team and the Public Health Wales Board, we would like to congratulate them and say a very big thank you to each of them, to all of our colleagues who have been leading our response in similar roles and to everyone across the organisation for their ongoing commitment to protecting our people in Wales.”