Neslyn Watson-Druée was honoured with a CBE for ‘services to healthcare’ due to her work coaching and mentoring midwives and nurses.
She said: ‘Throughout the whole of my midwifery and nursing career I have made it my purpose to inspire and encourage others to activate their vision and be the best that they can be.
‘I have served for 21 years as a non-executive director, including 10 years as chairman of a primary care trust.
‘I feel humbled and blessed to have received such a high honour. I will continue to do the very best I can to contribute to midwifery, nursing and healthcare in general.’
Neslyn has experience as a nurse, midwife, health visitor, nurse tutor, university education lecturer and business psychologist.
She was the inaugural chair of the RCN’s Race and Ethnicity Committee, which established the Mary Seacole Awards and Bursary for Black and Minority Ethnic Nursing Leadership.
She served on the RCN Health and Social Policy Committee and was the first Caribbean nurse to be appointed to the Former United Kingdom Central Council for Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors.
In October 2009, Neslyn was selected as one of 180 women across the UK to be a national ambassador for the public sector, following a new scheme announced by the deputy minister for Women and Equalities, Maria Eagle.
As reported by
Midwives, consultant midwife
Sheena Byrom was also honoured with an OBE.
