Queen's Birthday Honours: Sheffield children's nurse and expert in infectious diseases honoured for work during pandemic

A Sheffield community nurse and a doctor who is an expert in infectious diseases were among those to be named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for going above and beyond during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Adele Hague, team leader for Sheffield Children’s 0-19 team, has been honoured for her dedicated work in the community and for her work setting up a testing service and vaccination clinics at the hospital.

She was awarded the British Empire Medal for her outstanding work.

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Adele has worked at Sheffield Children’s for six years and her normal role supports the coordination of healthcare for children and young people across the city.

Adele Hague has been awarded a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday HonoursAdele Hague has been awarded a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours
Adele Hague has been awarded a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours

In March 2020, she volunteered to help with the Covid-19 response, training as a Covid tester, overseeing the admin team who running the testing service, organising logistics and personally swabbing more than 2,000 people.

Later in the year Adele was also instrumental in launching vaccination clinics and personally administering the vaccine to hundreds of colleagues.

Adele said: “I am so humbled. I honestly can’t believe it, but I’m really amazed people nominated me for it as I was only doing my job! This award isn’t just for me, it represents the work of everyone in the community team, the Covid testing team and everyone who supported us, including my son who has really helped me.

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Acting chief executive Ruth Brown, said: “On behalf of all colleagues at Sheffield Children’s, I’d like to thank Adele for the fantastic work she has done and say a big congratulations for this great honour. Her dedication and work ethic has been a huge benefit to the team at the Trust both before and during Covid, and we are so grateful for everything she has done.”

Kate Josephs, Thurshantha de Silva and Jean MakinKate Josephs, Thurshantha de Silva and Jean Makin
Kate Josephs, Thurshantha de Silva and Jean Makin

Sheffield Council’s new chief executive Kate Josephs was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath for public service, having served as a director general in the cabinet office before her current role.

Colin Stewart, area director, Work and Health Services at the Department for Work and Pensions in Sheffield has received an OBE.

And Dr Thushan de Silva has been given an MBE for services to Covid-19 research.

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The senior clinical lecturer and honorary consultant physician in infectious diseases has played a critical role in the national and global response to the pandemic by leading the Sheffield team of the Covid-19 Genomics UK Consortium in partnership with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Dr de Silva’s work has been performed alongside his duties as a NHS doctor, seeing many Covid-19 patients on the infectious diseases and intensive care units of the Royal Hallamshire Hospital.

Kate Josephs CEO of Sheffield City Council. Picture Scott MerryleesKate Josephs CEO of Sheffield City Council. Picture Scott Merrylees
Kate Josephs CEO of Sheffield City Council. Picture Scott Merrylees

Throughout the pandemic, he has coordinated research on Covid-19, leading a team of specialists which has been developing and trialling new ways of creating antibody testing.

Dr de Silva, said: “Throughout the pandemic, the entire team here at Sheffield has been exceptional, with so many people coming together to go above and beyond. Research during this time has had to be responsive like never before, as things have evolved continuously. The key to our success has been the teamwork ethic that has typified everyone’s attitude.”