A WOMAN from Thurrock has been honoured in the New Year's Honours list for her contributions to promoting diversity.

Itiola Durojaiye, 52, from Corringham was awarded and MBE in recognition of her work with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

The diversity policy adviser has been with the department since 2016 and has worked on several projects raising awareness of diversity in boardrooms across the UK.

Also honoured today is Dr Mohammad Tayyab Haider, the medical director at Basildon and Thurrock University Hospital.

He has been recognised for his services to the NHS, including during the Covid-19 response.

Dr Haider said: "I am delighted and very proud to receive this honour, which is a recognition of the extraordinary hard work of the staff at Basildon Hospital, and across Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, while responding to Covid-19.

"Many teams across the Trust have worked incredibly hard during the pandemic, showing phenomenal commitment in caring for the very large number of seriously ill patients in our hospitals. This year has been the most challenging and the journey we have been on together has been quite remarkable. It was humbling to be nominated let alone be awarded the honour. I hope it inspires doctors developing their careers. I am so fortunate to work in a great team, enjoy a career in medicine and be in a position to influence the profession."

Dr Haider first joined Basildon and Thurrock Hospitals as a trainee medical registrar in 1999 and, following his specialist training at London Deanery, in 2002 he returned in a consultant role. Having held a number of clinical director positions and the post of deputy medical director, Tayyab was appointed Medical Director on 1 March 2017.

David Walker, chief medical officer for Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Huge congratulations to Tayyab - this honour is much deserved. He continues to help support and develop clinical staff at this crucial time, and it is a wonderful boost to us all that he has been recognised for his work."