The hard work and dedication of staff across the NHS in London has been recognised in this year’s New Year Honours, with a sickle cell community matron, neurosurgeon and leading researcher into diabetes awarded alongside other health service workers across the city.

London’s healthcare staff have received honours for services to health and equality closing a year in which the NHS dealt with record levels of demand but also delivered record treatments as staff continue to work hard to bring down waits even further in 2025.

Caroline Clarke, Regional Director for the NHS in London, said:

“All staff in London have gone above and beyond this year, from treating patients in our hospitals and communities, to leading the way in life-saving research and innovation.

“It is great to see the breadth of the incredible work our staff do reflected in the honours awarded this year, and I want to congratulate everyone receiving this well-deserved recognition for their commitment to the NHS, and the work they do every day to protect and improve the health of all Londoners.”

NHS staff in London have been recognised for their contribution to healthcare across a wide range of services, including nursing, medicine and children’s health, while others are recognised for a career in which they have made a significant difference to care provided by the NHS – both for their own patients and nationally as leaders in their fields.

They include:

DBE: Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Marie Gabriel, Chair of NHS North East London, has been made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE). The damehood recognises her service, throughout her 45-year career and voluntary endeavours, to health and equity.

Dame Marie is the founding Chair of NHS North East London Integrated Care Board, and through this role she sits on the Mayor of London’s Health Board and is Co-chair of the London People Board. In 2020, she was appointed founding Chair of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, chairing a board of world-renowned experts and taking a leading role in work to tackle racial bias in health and care.

Dame Marie said: “I am thankful to receive this recognition and to all those involved in my nomination. I know that this is really a reflection of the achievements and contributions of the organisations, communities and people that I work with.

“I am most pleased that it is an illustration of the importance of the ongoing work we do to further equity and improve health outcomes.

“People in north east London deserve high quality health and care services wherever they live and I will continue to work tirelessly to raise the profile of our aspirational and diverse communities and work with them to ensure we deliver improved health outcomes.”

Also receiving a DBE, was Professor Stephanie Amiel, Emeritus Professor of Diabetes Research at King’s College London and Consultant at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for services to People Living with Diabetes.

She said: “I’m very proud of the way in which the clinical team at King’s works together to deliver the very best care to people with diabetes, it’s very much a collaborative effort, both across disciplines in the diabetes group and with people from other clinical specialities.

“As a cohesive team, we were – and still are – one of the early adopters of technology for people with type 1 diabetes, improving the quality of life of patients living with the condition.

“I am also very proud of our outcomes for pregnant women with type 1 diabetes. Together with the patients, our own team and the obstetrics and midwifery team, we were very strict on glucose control from early on, and if this wasn’t being managed at home by our patients, we would bring them (briefly) into the hospital. In a clinical audit, our type 1 diabetes patients had the same outcomes as women without diabetes, which was a real achievement.”

OBE: Officer of the Order of the British Empire

Professor Safa Taha Al-Sarraj Head of Clinical Neuropathology, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. For services to Medicine, particularly to Neuropathology (Greater London)

MBE: Members of the Order of the British Empire
Professor Keyoumars Ashkan Consultant Neurosurgeon at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has received an MBE for services to neurosurgery. Prof Ashkan operated on Dagmar Turner to remove a brain tumour, whilst she played her violin throughout surgery, helping the surgeons preserve her musical abilities and dexterity. This unique approach helped Prof Ashkan and his team avoid harming the area of the brain responsible for coordination and hand movements.

Ms Matty Asante-Owusu Sickle Cell Community Matron, Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Centre at the Whittington Health NHS Trust has received an MBE for services to nursing. She was appointed to the Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Centre as the first community nurse matron for sickle cell in the NHS. She has played an invaluable role in helping people with sickle cell and thalassaemia to stay well and to remain out of hospital.

Professor Ajay Jaikishore Vora Lately Consultant Paediatric Haematologist, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust. For services to Childhood Leukaemia (Greater London)

Mr Edwin Charinge Ndlovu Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive, East London NHS Foundation Trust. For services to the NHS and to Nursing (Kent)

King’s Ambulance Medal (KAM) for distinguished service
Darren Frank Farmer, Director of Ambulance Operations, London Ambulance Service.