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RCS Supporting Nominations for National Honours

Recommendations for National Honours

The College has an established Honours Committee to recommend our Fellows and Members for National honours, as well as those who have contributed to the work of the College. This committee work hard to support surgeons to attain national recognition for great contributions to the development of surgery.

Anyone is able to make a recommendation to the Committee. This can either take the form of nominating an individual to be put forward by the College, or seeking a letter of support for an existing nomination.

Please send your nomination letters to Lucy Davies, Committee Secretary for the Honours Committee - who will also answer any questions about the process (Tel: 020 7869 6096 or ldavies@rcseng.ac.uk). If you wish to discuss personal aspects of any nominee, or suitability, you can contact the Chair of the Committee via the Secretariat.

Outlined below are the sorts of contribution normally expected for each level of award. Particularly for MBEs and OBEs, surgeons will often have provided an excellent local service over many years, and this system is one way of recognising and honouring that contribution. The types of award for which we nominate are:

Knight/Dame

Awarded for pre-eminent contribution in any field of activity, through:

  • achievement or service to the community, usually, but not exclusively, at national or international level; or
  • in a capacity that will be recognised by peer groups as inspirational and significant nationally; and
  • that demonstrates sustained commitment.

CBE

  • a prominent national role (of a lesser degree); or
  • a conspicuous leading role in regional affairs, through achievement or service to the community; or
  • making a highly distinguished and innovative contribution.

OBE

Awarded for:

  • a distinguished regional or country-wide role in any field; or
  • through achievement or service to the community;
  • including notable practitioners known nationally.

MBE

Awarded for:

  • achievement or service in and to the community of a responsible kind that is outstanding in its field; or
  • local ‘hands-on’ service, that stands out as an example to others.

It is expected that nominees will be in active practice or within 6 months of retirement.  Nominations for retired Fellows are unlikely to be considered except under exceptional circumstances.   Holders of existing national honours would not normally be considered for elevation until after a period of five years.

BME

Awarded for:

  • hands-on’ service to the local community; or
  • or innovative work of a relatively short duration (3 to 4 years) that has made a significant difference

It is expected that nominees will be in active practice or within 6 months of retirement. Nominations for retired Fellows are unlikely to be considered except under exceptional circumstances. Holders of existing national honours would not normally be considered for elevation until after a period of five years.

To make a nomination, please write outlining why you think a person deserves support. You do not need to recommend the particular level of award, just the contribution. If the College decides to support a particular nomination, we shall also encourage letters of support from relevant individuals or groups, such as patient organisations, and so please also consider and comment on the source and likely level of additional support that could be called upon.

However, please do not try to get that support at this early stage. In your letter of nomination it would be helpful if you would indicate likely sources of support, but we shall contact them at the appropriate point, from the College. As well as medical contributions, it is possible and appropriate for other work to be taken into account; for example, a consultant who supports other activities that might benefit the community in a non-medical way would particularly become eligible.

RCS Honours Committee Members

Professor Sir Norman Williams FRCS – Chair
Mr Stephen Cannon MBE FRCS
Mrs Helen Falcon MBE MFDS FFGDP(UK)
Sir Bruce Edward Keogh, KBE, FRCS, FRCP
Lt Col Linda E Orr BSc (Hons) OBE MB ChB DM FRCS (Eng) FRCS (ORL-HNS)
Professor David Neal CBE FRCS
The Rt Hon Lord B F Ribeiro Kt CBE FRCS
Professor J P Shepherd CBE Hon FRCS FDSRCS
Professor Farah Bhatti OBE FRCS
Ms Sue Denmark (Patient Representative)
Professor Simon Bowman RCP

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