Health Minister congratulates staff on New Year Honours
Date published:
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has congratulated health and social care staff who have been recognised in the New Year Honours list for 2024.

Honours have been awarded to a number of staff working across a variety of disciplines, including Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, Primary Care and the Public Health Agency. People working in voluntary and charitable roles providing support for community health and wellbeing have also been honoured.
The Minister said:
“This New Year Honours list marks the achievement, dedication and service of many people across Northern Ireland. It offers an opportunity to recognise and celebrate those who make a difference to people’s lives every day in their outstanding contribution to health and social care. I know I speak for everyone when I offer my sincere thanks and congratulations to those being honoured today.
“It’s wonderful that staff at all levels in the HSC, and many others who perform important voluntary and community work, are being recognised in this way. Since I became Health Minister, I have been deeply impressed by the hard work, resilience and genuine compassion shown by so many who help to achieve better outcomes for all our citizens.”
Among those recognised in the New Year Honours are Michael Bloomfield, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS), and Deirdre Webb, former Assistant Director of Nursing for Healthcare at the Public Health Agency (PHA). They have both received the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
Michael Bloomfield was appointed Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service in March 2018 and has recently announced his retirement. He joined the Civil Service in 1987, moving to the Department of Health where he held a number of roles. He also served as Deputy Chief Executive of the former Health and Social Care Board.
At the PHA, Deirdre Webb led a team of nurse consultants and was responsible for the implementation of family nurse partnerships in each of the Health and Social Care Trusts. These partnerships deliver a high-quality service to young mothers and their families. Deirdre also played a significant role in the successful implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination programme in Northern Ireland.
Minister Nesbitt added:
“Michael and Deirdre have given decades of outstanding service and leadership, through some extremely challenging times, and I am very pleased to see them receiving these special Honours. I hope that all of those being recognised this year know how much they are valued and appreciated by their colleagues within the health and social care system and by the community.”
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