The retired chairman of two neighbouring NHS hospitals trusts has been honoured by the Queen just months after a boardroom colleague was made a dame.
Mike Viggers has been made an MBE for services to the NHS after chairing Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust and Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Mr Viggers, 66, a former operations director of Parker Pens, in Newhaven, retired from both posts a year ago.
The Brighton trust – BSUH – runs the Royal Sussex County Hospital, the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital and the Sussex Eye Hospital, in Brighton, and the Princess Royal Hospital, in Haywards Heath.
When he took over in Brighton, Mr Viggers continued to chair Western Sussex Hospitals which runs Southlands Hospital, Shoreham, Worthing General and St Richard’s Hospital, in Chichester. He served seven years as Western’s chairman in the end.
He was previously the deputy chairman of the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
Mr Viggers said: “Working with so many dedicated and caring people at Western Sussex and BSUH was the most rewarding experience of my working life and I feel humbled to be receiving this award on their behalf.
“Every day I spent in the NHS, I was moved by countless acts of amazing kindness from colleagues and volunteers who go above and beyond for their patients when they are most in need.
“The health service is truly blessed to have such incredible staff and I have been very proud to watch you all continue going from strength to strength over the past 12 months. Thank you again for all that you do.”
Marianne Griffiths, the chief executive of Brighton’s hospitals trust as well as Western, was herself honoured by the Queen in the new year list, when she was made a dame.
Dame Marianne said: “We are all delighted to hear that Mike has been awarded an MBE.
“It’s a well-deserved recognition of his dedication and service to the NHS and his contribution to improving the quality of patient care we offer here at BSUH.
“We often talk about our staff going the extra mile for patients, but that absolutely applied to Mike’s own commitment to them too.”
