Professor Sue Bailey made a dame in New Year’s Honours List

Professor Sue Bailey, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, has been made a dame in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List, and was one of several people recognised for their work in mental health.

Professor Dame Bailey – who received an OBE in 2002 – was given the award for her services to psychiatry and for voluntary service to people with mental health conditions.

She is a consultant child and adolescent forensic psychiatrist, focusing on risks presented by and to young people who enter the mental health, social care and youth justice systems. She has worked in the field of child psychiatry for over 30 years, and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 1996.

Meanwhile, two members of Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust received gongs. Stephen Firn, chief executive of the Trust received an OBE For services to healthcare, particularly mental health. Dr Jacqueline Craissati, consultant clinical and forensic psychologist and clinical director of forensic services, received an MBE for services to mental health.

Dave Mellish, chair of Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I am very happy for Stephen and Jackie and it is pleasing to see our mental and community health services being recognised in this way. This is a reflection of Stephen's leadership and dedication in developing Oxleas as a provider of excellent health and social care services. He has guided the growth of the trust as an integrated provider of both physical and mental health services with a fundamental focus on high quality patient care. Jackie fully deserves this recognition as she has played a key role in developing services at the Bracton Centre, in the community and in prisons which have a national reputation for excellence.”

Elsewhere, Michael O'Driscoll, a mental health nurse at Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, was awarded an MBE for services to mental health nursing. He took a significant leadership role in raising the standards of professional practice and patient care in two specific clinical areas at the Trust. This included leading significant programmes of change, to involve service users and carers and promote standards of excellence among colleagues. 

Others to be recognised for their work in mental health included:

• William Halliday, chief executive of Mindwise, received an OBE for services to people with disabilities and mental health conditions in Northern Ireland

• Dr Carol Trotter, a retired consultant psychiatrist, who worked at St James’ Hospital in Southsea for many years, received an MBE for services to mental health.