Frontline medic receives MBE in Queen’s Birthday honours list

10th Oct 2020

A frontline doctor who has treated hundreds of coronavirus patients at a West Midlands NHS Trust has been awarded an MBE for her dedication to the profession.

Dr Sarb Clare, who is responsible for setting up the acute medicine department at City Hospital, in Birmingham, where some of the sickest patients are treated, was revealed today as one of those honoured by the Queen.  

The medic, aged 44, who has also been involved in a number of projects which not only improve patient care but also address the wellbeing of her colleagues, said: “I am incredibly delighted and honoured to receive an MBE.

“It is a privilege for me to serve the local community who face huge health inequality and very humbling for my work to be recognised in this manner. It’s even more poignant in a year which has been turned upside down due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Receiving this award means a lot to me as it recognises what we often do not see under the tip of the iceberg of success which is grit, energy, time, disappointment, dedication, sacrifice and much more. I applaud all my team who are critical to this success especially my amazing nursing team who are the true heroes.”

The clinician has been a doctor for 21 years, 11 of those as an Acute Medical Consultant at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, which also runs Sandwell and Rowley Regis Hospitals, as well as GP surgeries across the area.

She graduated from the University of Manchester and was one of the first UK trainees within acute medicine and the first appointed Acute Physician at City Hospital in 2008.

She added: “I set up Acute Medicine within City Hospital and I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved in particular being the number one rotation choice for acute medicine trainees within the West Midlands.”

She has gone on to deliver many educational initiatives as well as creating a new Acute Medical Assessment nursing role  and was pivotal in introducing an award-winning wellbeing initiative which brought in the use of energy pods for staff.

As well as being a frontline doctor, Dr Clare is also the Deputy Medical Director and a key clinician who is leading the teams into the new Midland Metropolitan Hospital, which is currently under construction.

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