Debbie Fleming, the chief executive of University Hospitals Dorset is one of several people in the county to have been recognised in the Queen’s New Year Honours List, receiving an OBE.

She has worked for the NHS for nearly 38 years and been a chief executive for 20 years, leading the merger of the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch hospitals and Poole Hospital from January 2019 when she became joint chief executive over both.

Debbie said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been awarded this honour, and was incredibly humbled to receive this news. I am so very proud of the NHS, where it is a real privilege to work with such talented, dedicated and highly skilled people, providing such important services for local people.

“Throughout my time in the NHS, I have worked with many different individuals and teams, and I could not be more proud of our staff. I am grateful for all the opportunities that I have been given over nearly 38 years to develop myself and my career, and would like to say thank you to all those who have supported and encouraged me.”

Debbie has a long career with the NHS. She spent seven years as the chairman of the Thames Valley and Wessex Leadership Academy and has led a number of commissioning organisations across Dorset, Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. In 2013 she was appointed to the post of area director (Wessex) for NHS England, responsible for overseeing the establishment of the new ‘NHS architecture’ in the local area at that time. In 2014, Debbie was appointed as chief executive for Poole Hospital, where she served for five years before being appointed as joint chief executive for both Poole Hospital and the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch hospitals.

Amongst the others receiving honours is former Dorset Police and crime commissioner Martyn Underhill who receives an MBE.