Alumnus recognised in New Year’s honours list

Health Education England’s Chief Nurse and BCU Visiting Professor of Advanced Nurse Practice Mark Radford has been recognised in the New Year’s honours list.

Mark, who qualified as a nurse in 1994 at the University of Central England and also holds a PhD by Research from BCU, received a CBE for his services to nursing.

He is also the Deputy Chief Nursing Officer for England and led the national NHS vaccine workforce programme, with the delivery of 15 million vaccinations in its first phase.

In a few months, the programme recruited and trained over 250,000 people, including 90,000 clinicians and 70,000 volunteers, to launch one of world’s fastest programmes.

Mark also led the deployment of student nurses in the wave one and two pandemic responses, together with 71 universities across England.

He has a myriad of experience including work in anaesthetics, pre-operative assessment, perioperative care, critical care and A&E in the UK and Europe. 

Mark's research covers emergency care models, advanced practice, staffing, risk modelling, clinical decision-making, expertise and sociological issues in healthcare. Professor Radford is currently working with Staffordshire University on research into nurse and paramedic retention.

Mark was quoted about the Honour on the Health Education England website: “This was a huge surprise and one that I was thrilled to receive. I have loved being a nurse for nearly 30 years – as a clinician, academic and leader, it has been the most rewarding career.

“I’m pleased to see that so many other nurses and other NHS staff have also been recognised in the honours list. A huge congratulations to them and to all the NHS and social care staff who have worked so hard this last year. This pandemic has shone a light on the contribution of nurses and other health professionals and every one of them deserves recognition.  

“Being part of a team has played an important role in my career journey to date in the NHS, universities and Health Education England (HEE). Everybody I have ever worked with has contributed to my development into the nurse I am today, and for this reason, I want this award to also recognise the teams and the people I have worked with over the years."