DIANE Sarkar, the Chief Nursing Officer for Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust who spent seven years as director of nursing for Basildon & Thurrock Hospital, has been awarded an MBE in The Queen's Birthday Honours for her 36 years dedication to nursing.

Diane said: "We all know how challenging a year 2020 has been, not just for nursing, but for everyone, so to receive an MBE this year for my dedication to nursing and supporting others means an awful lot to me, both on a professional and personal level.

"I am extremely proud of all the nurses and midwives in Mid and South Essex - not only in my Trust, but across the system - for their hard work, care and dedication. Back when I started my training in 1986 I'd never even dreamt that something like this would be a possibility, so I hope it acts as an inspiration not just to nurses starting out today, but also to those that are still developing their careers.

"Nursing it isn't just a job, it is a vocation, and it continues to be a large and hugely rewarding part of my life. I am very proud to be a nurse."

Diane trained at The Royal Free Hospital in London, went onto work at several of London's large acute hospitals and developed her clinical nursing in intensive care at Kings College Hospital.

She completed her degree and a Master's degree in 1999.

She moved to Southend Hospital in 2001 as Associate Director of Operations for Medicine and then Associate Director of Nursing. Appointed in 2010 as the director of nursing for Basildon Hospital and then in 2017 as the Chief Nurse for Mid and South Essex, her focus has been around leading the nursing and midwifery workforce and developing the quality, patient safety and patient experience agendas.

Clare Panniker, Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust Chief Executive, said: "This honour is really well deserved, Diane has done a phenomenal amount to support and develop nursing in mid and south Essex over the last 19 years. It is also great for nursing in general to see its leaders being recognised in this way. Huge congratulations to Diane and her family."