Liz Darlison honoured for ‘services to Cancer Research and Patients’
Liz Darlison, consultant nurse at Leicester’s Hospitals and Head of Services for the national Mesothelioma UK charity, has been awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in Her Majesty The Queen’s Birthday 2019 Honours List.
Liz Darlison works at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester, focusing on the treatment and care of mesothelioma patients. Liz established Mesothelioma UK in 2004 and continues to lead this national charity for asbestos-related cancer, based in Leicester.
Liz Darlison, a consultant nurse at Glenfield Hospital, and head of services for Mesothelioma UK
The UK has the highest incidence of mesothelioma in the world, with more than 2,700 people diagnosed each year and sadly this number continues to rise. There is currently no known cure for the disease and prognosis is poor, with only around half of patients living past one year after diagnosis.
Commenting on the award of her MBE, Liz Darlison said: “I was absolutely delighted to be awarded with an MBE, not just for myself but would also like to recognise that this is a wonderful achievement for Leicester’s Hospitals, nursing and Mesothelioma UK.
“It is testament to the continued work of our wonderful NHS and shows that nursing is an amazing career. Leicester’s Hospitals is an excellent employer that developed me and allowed the charity to get started, and to be awarded an MBE is also a testament to Mesothelioma UK, our supporters and team, who all combine to help this amazing national charity to do what it does so well, demonstrating dedication to treating and supporting patients with this dreadful, avoidable disease that should never have happened on the scale it has in the UK.”
Carolyn Fox, chief nurse at Leicester’s Hospitals, said: “On behalf of everyone at Leicester’s Hospitals, I’d like to congratulate Liz on being awarded an MBE. This is a fantastic achievement for Liz who is dedicated to her work both at Glenfield Hospital and for Mesothelioma UK, the charity she established, and this recognition is well deserved.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
About University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust is one of the biggest and busiest NHS Trusts in the country, serving the one million residents of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland – and increasingly specialist services over a much wider area. Our nationally and internationally-renowned specialist treatment and services in cardio-respiratory diseases, ECMO, cancer and renal disorders reach a further two to three million patients from across the UK.
Spread over the General, Glenfield and Royal Infirmary hospitals, we also have our very own Children’s Hospital and work closely with partners at the University of Leicester and De Montfort University providing world-class teaching to nurture and develop the next generation of over 15,000 highly skilled staff including doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, many of whom go on to spend their working lives with us.
For further information, please visit www.leicestershospitals.nhs.uk.
About Mesothelioma UK:
Mesothelioma UK is a national resource centre dedicated to providing specialist mesothelioma information, support and improved care and treatment for all UK mesothelioma patients, their carers and health care professionals. The centre promotes the development of Specialist Mesothelioma Nursing practice and funds 24 specialist nursing posts around the UK.
Mesothelioma UK Charitable Trust is based in Leicester. Our services are free of charge and we rely entirely on donations, legacies, fundraising and sponsorship for financial support. For more information, visit www.mesothelioma.uk.com, email info@mesothelioma.uk.com or call the freephone helpline number on 0800 169 2409 (Monday – Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm).
Contact information
For press enquiries, please contact:
Simon Gribbon, on behalf of Mesothelioma UK
M: 07990 583371
E: simon@sandstarcomms.com