A consultant physician at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust has been awarded a CBE in the Queen’s New Years Honours List for his services to equality and inclusion in the NHS.
Professor Iqbal Singh, a Consultant in the Medicine for Older People Unit at Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital, was given the prestigious accolade on New Year’s Day being described as ‘a pioneer in ethnic health diversity and a leader in the care of older people and patient safety equality and inclusion.’
Professor Singh has worked for the NHS since 1974 and began working for ELHT in 1983. Through his work nationally and internationally, he has been transforming how health and social care professionals are educated and regulated regarding care for patients and how they embed a culture of compassion, safety and dignity within health organisations.
He is the founder chair of the Centre for Excellence and Safety for Older People and chair of the European Group on Safety for Older People and has also chaired the General Medical Council’s equality and diversity committee. As well as this, he has also been pivotal over the last three decades in promoting equality and fairness in the working lives of BAME doctors in the NHS.
Upon hearing he had received the award, Professor Singh said: ““I view this as a great honour and not just individual recognition but the recognition of our work in care of older people and in promoting equality, fairness and compassion within the NHS."
As well as his medical work, Professor Singh also founded and chaired Diversity Partners, which offers opportunities for partners to share advice, guidance and demonstrate good practice in equality and diversity management to the wider NHS. He currently chairs the GMC BME Forum which is a voice and influence on equality issues and also serves on the Health Honours Committee and Cabinet Office Honours Diversity and Inclusion Committee helping improve wider recognition.
Congratulations Professor Singh, our ELHT Family are proud to work alongside you.
