An Edinburgh University professor, Aziz Sheikh, is one of 23 people in Scotland recognised for their work and volunteering in health, care and life sciences in the Queen's Birthday Honours list published today.

Professor Sheikh, who is Chair of Primary Care Research and Development at the University's Usher Institute receives a knighthood.

The list of those receiving honours includes clinicians, academics, volunteers and staff in third sector organisations and a hospital chaplain.

Professor Sheikh's citation states that he made “an immeasurable contribution to the covid-19 pandemic response locally, nationally and internationally across academia, government, NHS and communities”. This continues:

“His international impact includes leading Scotland’s EAVE II platform – the world’s first national (5.6m people) end-to-end routine data infrastructure designed to understand natural history, identify those at high risk and investigate the effectiveness of interventions for covid-19.”

It goes on to add:

“His foresight led to the world’s first ever whole country estimates of AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine effectiveness overall for Scotland, stratified by vaccine type in different age groups.

“He leads the NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Respiratory Health (RESPIRE) which is undertaking a programme of deep learning of CXRs to diagnose covid-19 (Pakistan), assessment of PPE provision of frontline clinical staff (Malaysia), and psychological impacts of covid-19 (Bangladesh).”

Professor Jacqui Reilly, Professor of Infection Prevention and Control at Glasgow Caledonian University's Department of Nursing and Community Health, is recognised with a CBE for services to healthcare and public health.

Many of the honours recognise work during the pandemic and since – including an OBE for Dr Stephen James Cole, a Tayside Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Consultant, who is President of the Scottish Intensive Care Society,

The list includes two Scottish Ambulance Service emergency responders, who are recognised for their voluntary work setting up a community first responder group in Renfrewshire.

Stuart McLellan, a technician based at Kilmarnock ambulance station and Ross Nelson, a paramedic based at Paisley, receive MBEs for their role in setting up the Neilston and Uplawmoor community first responder group. The group has responded to over 2000 emergency calls since 2014, sending a volunteer responders to medical emergencies to provide life-saving care until an ambulance crew arrives.

Stewart says: “It was remarkable to get our small village community group recognised at such a prestigious level. CFRs are vital across Scotland, it's impossible to place ambulances in every village or town and CFRs are a great way to provide patient care in these areas whilst the ambulance is on its way. It's also a great development for volunteers exploring a career within the Ambulance Service. 

 

The honours for people working and volunteering in health, social care and life sciences, whose citation makes specific mention of health or care, in full are:

Knighthood

Professor Aziz SHEIKH OBE FRSE, Chair, Primary Care Research and Development, University of Edinburgh. For services to Covid-19 Research and Policy.

CBE

Professor Jacqueline Samantha REILLY, Professor of Infection Prevention and Control, Glasgow Caledonian University.  For services to Healthcare and Public Health.

OBE

Dr Stephen James COLE, Intensive Care Doctor, NHS Tayside and President, Scottish Intensive Care Society. For services to the NHS and to the Covid-19 Response.

Dr Noha ELSAKKA, Consultant, Medical Microbiology and Virology and Service Clinical Director, NHS Grampian. For services to the NHS and the Covid-19 Response.

Sally Ann KELLY, Chief Executive Officer, Aberlour Child Care Trust. For services to Families in Scotland.

Professor Jean Scott, KER (Jean Scott Cachia), Lately Associate Postgraduate Dean, NHS Education for Scotland. For services to Medical Education.

Professor David Charles KLUTH. For services to Medical Education during the Covid-19 response.

Professor Mary Josephine RENFREW, Professor Emeritus of Mother and Infant Health, University of Dundee. For services to Midwifery.

MBE

Professor Harry CAMPBELL, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Edinburgh. For services to International Child Health and Global Public Health.

Dr Kirsteen Ann Scott COLE, General Practitioner, Skerryvore Medical Practice, Orkney. For services to General Practice and to the community in Orkney during Covid-19.

Reverend James Bell FALCONER, Healthcare Chaplin, NHS Grampian. For services to Parent and Child Bereavement and to the community in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray.

John Drummond FRACE, For services to Public Health Communication during Covid-19.

Janis HEANEY. For services to Public Health in Scotland during Covid-19.

Elizabeth Nicol KING, Principal Educational Psychologist, South Lanarkshire Council. For services to Children and Families.

Dr Barry KLAASSEN, Team Leader, Scotland Emergency Medicine - Malawi Project and Chief Medical Adviser, British Red Cross. For services to Overseas Healthcare.

Stuart MCLELLAN, Co-founder, Neilston and Uplawmoor First Responders. For voluntary and charitable services in Renfrewshire.

Dr Elaine MCNAUGHTON (Elaine Campbell), Lately Senior Partner, Carnoustie Medical Group. For services to General Practice and GP Training in Scotland.

Dr Mary Ruth MCQUILLAN, Senior Lecturer, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh. For services to Science during Covid-19.

Ross NELSON, Co-Founder, Neilston and Uplawmoor First Responders. For voluntary and charitable services in Renfrewshire.

British Empire Medal

Jane REID (Jean Holloway). For voluntary and charitable services to Prostate Cancer UK.

Maria HEWITT, Nurse, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. For services to the NHS during Covid-19.

Patricia Jean ROSS. Volunteer, Highland Hospice. For services to Charity in Scotland.

Donald Melville RICHARDS, Board Member, The ALLIANCE and lately Convenor, deafscotland. For services to People with Hearing Impairments.

 

The full list of honours is published by the UK Government.

Read more: Older Scots struck by cost-of-living crisis;Steep rise in high risk ambulance delays; Views sought on Scotland's Air Ambulance Service

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