Physiotherapist and national AHP lead Beverley Harden is 'thrilled' by her New Year Honour

Physiotherapist Beverley Harden, who is the allied health professions (AHP) lead at Health Education England (HEE), received an MBE in the 2023 New Year Honours list. The high-profile award recognises Beverley's work with healthcare services.

In a tweet, Beverley, who is also the deputy chief AHP officer for England, said she was ‘truly thrilled’ to have been made an MBE and thanked her supporters.

‘I am truly thrilled to have received this honour, thank you so much. Thank you for everyone’s kind & joyful multi media messages.' She added: 'I so value the privilege of working in partnership with so many incredible people & organisations across the country.’

An 'expert clinician'

As a physiotherapist, I have worked extensively as an expert clinician in respiratory failure, non-invasive ventilation and rehabilitation and as leader of complex, cross-sector, multi-professional service 

Beverley – a Chartered Society of Physiotherapy fellow – highlighted her physiotherapy background when describing her role at HEE in the following way. ‘My role also leads nationally on the multi-professional advanced and consultant practitioners.

'As a physiotherapist, I have worked extensively as an expert clinician in respiratory failure, non-invasive ventilation and rehabilitation and as leader of complex, cross-sector, multi-professional services.’ 

She says she has held a number of clinical leadership roles at a local, regional and national level and is ‘skilled in workforce transformation and organisational development’. 

Chief AHP officer Suzanne Rastrick passed on her ‘warmest congratulations’ to Beverley and other AHPs who were recognised in the 2023 awards.

University of Winchester

Meanwhile, the University of Winchester, where Beverley is a visting professor, also released a statement. 

Simon Jobson, dean of the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, said: 'We warmly congratulate Beverley on this well-deserved recognition of her phenomenal contribution to healthcare and to allied health professions in particular.'

Professor Jobson added: 'We are very proud that she is one of our visiting professors.'

Carers UK role

Beverley is also a trustee at Carers UK, whose chair, Nick Baird, said: ‘On behalf of Carers UK, I would like to offer our warmest congratulations to Beverley on receiving her honour which is richly deserved. 

‘We have seen first-hand her incredible insight and energy since she joined the board nearly five years ago helping Carers UK to achieve our mission to make like better for unpaid carers in the UK.’

Twitter: @BeverleyHarden