RCSLT members recognised in New Year Honours list

4 January 2021

Two members of the RCSLT have been recognised in the New Year Honours list, which marks the outstanding achievements of people across the UK.

The list, published on 31 December 2020, specifically acknowledges the contributions of hundreds of workers in response to the pandemic, with health and social care workers making up 10% of those awarded.

Sarah Wallace, consultant speech and language therapist at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, was awarded an OBE for her work as an internationally recognised leader and senior clinician within the field of dysphagia and critical care in speech and language therapy, as well as her vital role in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Roganie Govender, consultant clinical academic speech and language therapist, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, was named an MBE for her services to speech and language therapy.

This includes her leading role as a clinical academic in the field of head and neck cancer and her contribution during the COVID-19 pandemic to supporting modifications to practice through professional guidance.

Both Sarah and Roganie sit on the RCSLT COVID-19 advisory group and have been instrumental in the development of our COVID-19 guidance.

We also offer our congratulations to Mrunel Sisodia, co-chair of the National Network of Parent Carer Forums, who was awarded an OBE for services to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, and to Janice Nicholson, strategic lead of No Wrong Door; Suzanne Miell-Ingram, Makaton tutor and director of Singing Hands; and Tracy Gale Upton, Makaton tutor at Singing Hands who were each awarded an MBE.

The list highlights how those in the profession have stepped up during the COVID-19 crisis to ensure that speech and language therapy services continue to meet the needs of their users.