Several people from Brighton and Hove have been honoured in the belated Queen’s Birthday Honours List for making a difference, especially during the coronavirus crisis.
They include Gail Davey, from Hove, a professor of global health epidemiology at Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) and president of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine Hygiene.
Professor Davey has been appointed an OBE for services to tackling neglected tropical diseases.
She has dedicated herself to leading public health research that has transformed care for some of the world’s most vulnerable communities for nearly two decades.
Her work has focused on Neglected Tropical Diseases and in particular podoconiosis, also known as podo or mossy foot.
Podo affects four million of the poorest people in Africa, Asia and South America, leaving with badly swollen feet and legs caused by chronic exposure to irritant soil.
She said: “I’m humbled by this award, which reflects the dedication of a huge number of people rather than any individual endeavour.
“My hope is that the recognition afforded by the OBE focuses attention on podo, on the structural problems that mean it exists at all, on efforts to make care accessible to all patients and on protecting the next generation from this entirely avoidable condition.”
BSMS dean Malcolm Reed said: “Professor Davey has made a huge difference to individuals, families and communities through her outstanding and dedicated work.”
Professor Reed praised her modesty, passion and expertise and said that as well as benefiting patients, she had helped many researchers too.
Hospital trust chairman Alan McCarthy has been appointed an MBE for services to the NHS. He chairs the board of Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust (BSUH) and the neighbouring Western Sussex Hospitals.
BSUH runs the Royal Sussex County Hospital, the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital and the Sussex Eye Hospital, in Brighton.
He spent eight years as chair of Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust and also chaired Brighton and Hove Primary Care Trust.
Mr McCarthy, 66, who lives in Hove, praised staff across the hospitals for the incredible way that they had responded during the coronavirus crisis.
He grew up in Moulsecoomb and spent his career in local government – including as chief executive of Brighton and Hove City Council – before embarking on a “second career” in the health service.
He said: “I’m delighted. It’s great to be recognised. It’s been a privilege to work with so many great people throughout my public sector career.
