Health heroes making a difference for patients are amongst Shropshire residents recognised with New Year Honours

The New Year Honours list names several Shropshire residents to be recognised for their efforts in education, healthcare, and tackling climate change.

Three Shropshire residents receive OBEs: Shrewsbury GP Dr Matt Kearney; Peter Laybourn, the Church Stretton-based chair and founder of International Synergies; and Professor Robert Ormerod, deputy vice-chancellor and provost at Keele University, who is from Whitchurch.

Philippa Jacqueline Jones, 68 and from Knockin, who has been part of the NHS for 50 years and is a board member of the UK Acute Oncological Society (UKAOS), has also been awarded the MBE for her services to oncology.

Luke Pollard, originally from Telford but now living in Leicestershire, will receive the MBE for services to Paratriathlon. Mr Pollard was the guide for Dave Ellis as they secured gold in the para-triathlon at the Paris 2024 games.

Mrs Jones, who has lived in Shropshire for 24 years and is married with two sons and a daughter, has been specifically recognised for the creation of a 24-hour triage tool to help acute cancer patients at all times of the day.

The triage tool is now used as the standard of care around the UK, and in Shropshire, and has also been adopted internationally.

Reacting to the news of her honour Mrs Jones, who is originally from Wales, said: "I am thrilled! I read a little bit about the process since receiving the letter and I understand a huge amount of work goes into the process by the people who have nominated me and I think that makes me very, very proud, because it is an honour nationally to be recognised but it is my peers who have done all the hard work to achieve this and their recognition means so much."

Mrs Jones comes from a family of nurses, with her mother and her two sisters both working in the profession, as well as her own three sisters, her daughter, and her niece.

She paid tribute to those who have helped in working to improve the lives of cancer patients.

She said: "There are so many people I would like to thank, including UK AOS, the United Kingdom Oncology Nursing Society (UKONS), and Macmillan Cancer Support, and all the fantastic hospitals and teams I have worked with over the years. There are so many people who have made a difference, including Dr Ernie Marshall and Naomi Clatworthy."

The specific triage tool is to help people going through cancer treatment, who contact 24-hour lines for support.