Joe Brogan, former head of pharmacy and medicines management at Health and Social Care (HSC) Northern Ireland, has been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King’s New Year Honours List 2026 announced on Monday (29).
The appointment was in recognition for his services to pharmacy and to voluntary service.
Brogan has been with the HSC NI since April 2009. The pharmacy and medicines management team of the health body works with Northern Ireland’s 511 community pharmacies and oversees clinical governance, contract management, and service development.
The organisation takes care of the standardisation of safety, quality and cost effectiveness of medicines in the health service, including a standardised mechanism for managed entry of medicines and the Northern Ireland Medicines Formulary, which is responsible for safe, clinically and cost-effective use of medicines in Northern Ireland.
The former chief executive of NHS England, Amanda Pritchard, received a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her services to the NHS.
She is the first woman in the health service’s history to hold the post of NHS chief executive, having began her NHS career as a graduate management trainee in 1997.
During her over two-decade-long career, she held various positions, including deputy chief executive at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust and served as a health team leader in the prime minister’s delivery unit.
After leaving NHS England, Pritchard returned to be the chief executive of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in September 2025, where she held the role previously.
"I am deeply honoured to receive this award, which reflects the extraordinary achievements of so many people across the NHS past and present," Pritchard said.
"The health service cares for over 1.7 million people every day, with dedicated staff going above and beyond, time and again, for patients and their families. Their commitment was never clearer than during the Covid pandemic, including the NHS’s world-leading vaccine rollout. It was an enormous privilege to lead the NHS in England through what was undoubtedly the greatest challenge in the health service’s history."
As NHS England chief executive, Pritchard led the merger of three national bodies, NHS England, NHS Digital and Health Education England, reducing headcount by 35 per cent and releasing £500 million to be re-invested in the frontline.
She oversaw the introduction of 42 Integrated Care Boards, produced the first-ever NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, and doubled the number of community diagnostic centres.
Apart from Pritchard, around three dozen NHS staff, including nurses, surgeons, and GPs have been recognised for their service.
Dr Maeve Keaney was recognised with an MBE for services to refugee doctors in Manchester, after establishing the Refugee and Asylum Seekers Centre for Healthcare Professionals Education project in 2003 - a programme that has supported hundreds of refugee and asylum seeker doctors and nurses to regain their professional identity and return to clinical work in the NHS.
Dr Michael Marsh, NHS England’s former South West Medical director, was also recognised with an MBE for his contributions to healthcare, including establishing the first Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at University Hospital Southampton – a landmark achievement that has had a lasting impact on the care of critically-ill children.
South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust chief executive Vanessa Ford was awarded an MBE in recognition of her leadership and commitment to improving mental health services.
Jackie Hanson, former regional chief nurse for NHS England, received an MBE for her services to the nursing profession and health services leadership.
