Selly Oak matron honoured for treating wounded soldiers

Marie Byrne said she was "absolutely delighted"

A nurse who treats soldiers who have been wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan is among people from the West Midlands named in the New Year Honours list.

Marie Byrne, who is a matron of trauma and orthopaedics at Birmingham's Selly Oak Hospital, was appointed an MBE.

Mrs Byrne, who spent time at the Camp Bastion military base in Afghanistan, said it was a tribute to the team.

David Nicholson, the head of the NHS in England, has been made a Knight Commander Order of the Bath (KCB).

Mr Nicholson's career at the NHS has spanned more than 25 years and included being chief executive at the former Birmingham and Black Country Strategic Health Authority.

'Many good people'

Meanwhile, Mrs Byrne, of Great Barr, Birmingham, said she felt humbled and privileged at being appointed an MBE.

She has been a nurse for 22 years and was one of the first civilian nurses to serve at Camp Bastion.

She said the experience of working with military patients there and at Selly Oak had been one of the highlights of her career.

"It's the whole team that makes the difference," she said.

"Because we have so many good people here who have learned so much from treating these military patients, we can now provide even better treatment to civilian patients as well."

Julie Moore, head of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, said Mrs Byrne had played a very influential role in improving the quality of care provided.

Elsewhere in the West Midlands, Professor Stephen Field, president of the Royal College of GPs, was appointed a CBE for services to medicine.

Parmajit Paul Singh Bassi, of regional investor Bond Wolfe, was appointed a CBE for services to business and pianist Peter Donohoe, of Solihull, became a CBE for services to classical music.

Also among those appointed a CBE was Robert Jones, the former chairman of the Association of Police Authorities.

Crisis centre

Two West Midlands police officers were also among those recognised in the New Year Honours list.

Det Supt Derek Forest was appointed an OBE. He has been involved with several national forensic forums, including the DNA Operations Board.

After the Asian tsunami in 2004, he was deployed as international police commander to Thailand for 16 months where he helped recover and identify thousands of victims.

Mr Forest, who will retire at the end of January, said he felt really proud and "extremely honoured".

"I see it as a compliment for the force, for all my colleagues and my family," he said.

Meanwhile, acting Det Ch Insp Dave Cook was awarded the Queen's Police Medal.

John Charles Ankcorn, who is president of Birmingham Crisis Centre, was appointed an MBE for voluntary service to victims of domestic violence.

Sharon Gail Bailey, who heads learning disabilities' services at Birmingham City Council, was also among those appointed an MBE. She was recognised for services to local government.