Director of infection prevention and control awarded MBE such a surprise, at the end of a difficult year. It is a reflection of the wonderful infection prevention and control team (IPC team) and microbiology team I work with, and the hard work put in by clinical colleagues and Trust senior management alike during this pandemic. I would like to thank my colleagues who have helped develop and accomplish difficult and complex infection prevention and control (IPC) strategies in our hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the IPC team led by Jenny Kirsh, our dedicated and excellent head of IPC, who spent many long evenings and weekends working on IPC plans with me. Also, all of my amazing colleagues on the PAHT IPC Cell, supported by a team of highly skilled microbiology laboratory biomedical scientists.
Congratulations to Dr Shico Visuvanathan We are delighted to announce that Dr Shico Visuvanathan, consultant microbiologist and director of infection prevention and control, has been awarded an MBE in the New Year's Honours list.
during the COVID-19 response. The New Year Honours list recognises the achievements of a wide range of extraordinary people across the United Kingdom. This demonstrates the incredible efforts of hundreds of public sector and community workers throughout 2020 and beyond.
Dr Visuvanathan said: Dr Visuvanathan has been recognised for services to I am humbled and very proud microbiology, and infection prevention and control, particularly to be awarded an MBE. It was
I have been consultant microbiologist at the Trust since 1994 and laboratory manager Deborah Orriss has led an excellent microbiology laboratory service throughout this time. Our laboratory team, especially Nick Levene, Cherie Beckett, Louise Lopez, and Sabiha Alom, have supported a seven day COVID-19 testing service. The Trust executive team including our director of nursing Sharon McNally, deputy director of nursing Sarah Webb and chief executive Lance McCarthy, have helped me from the start of the pandemic, through the IPC Cell, to implement best practice IPC guidance to help our patients 9
