12/10/2020
Chief Executive of the Western Trust Dr Anne Kilgallen extended her warmest congratulations to Leone Burns, Head of Contracting Services for the Western Trust and Marie Therese McDermott, Endoscopy Unit Manager at the South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen and Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex on their much deserved recognition in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
Leone Burns from Enniskillen was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in recognition of her contribution to the Coronavirus response as an exemplar of the wide range and exceptional community and front-line service given across the country in recent months.
Marie Therese McDermott from Dromore, Co Tyrone became a Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for services to nursing in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Marie Therese was redeployed to manage the Covid-19 Swab Team for the Southern Sector of the Trust in April 2020.
Dr Anne Kilgallen said: “This is truly deserved by both Leone and Marie Therese who have always put our patients/clients and service users at the centre of their work and in particular the challenges faced by all healthcare staff over the past six months. On behalf of myself and Trust Board members I wish to extend my congratulations to Leone and Marie Therese for this well-deserved recognition and their dedication in the Western Trust.”
Neil Guckian, Director of Finance and Contracting for the Western Trust said: “I am absolutely delighted that Leone has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Leone has been key in the development of the successful partnership working that the Western Trust has with our Independent and Community and Voluntary Sector colleagues particularly during the Covid-19 Pandemic.”
Geraldine McKay, Director of Acute Services for the Western Trust said: “Marie Therese is an exemplary nurse who has dedicated her career to caring for her patients. She has made a huge contribution to the health and wellbeing of patients particularly in the Omagh and Fermanagh area, always giving of her best to ensure that patients receive the highest quality care and support during their time in hospital.”
Speaking about her award Leone commented: “On receiving this award, I have to say I am overwhelmed, humbled and extremely honoured. I graciously accept this award on behalf of the Contracting Services Department of the Western Trust and on behalf of all of my colleagues. We collectively have been faced with one of the toughest challenges for our Health Service in recent times. I have witnessed true team working, collective leadership and a steadfast commitment to ensuring our Trust provides the most safe and effective care during this pandemic. I am very proud to be an employee of the Western Trust and of the quality of service it provides to our local population. The support of the people within our local community and our partners within the Independent and Community and Voluntary Sector during this time has been astounding and I want to thank them all and ask them to continue to work with us and we will all get through this together.”
Speaking about her award Marie Therese commented: “On receiving this award, I have to say I have been totally overwhelmed, humbled and honoured. I graciously accept this on behalf of each and every one of my healthcare colleagues who I’ve had the pleasure to work alongside. It is a privilege to lead an extraordinary group of truly dedicated, hardworking health care professionals, during such extraordinary and unprecedented times. Thank you all for your continued commitment and care for our patients, your support is very much appreciated.”