Professor Nick Levell, GIRFT’s clinical lead for dermatology, has been awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours.

Professor Levell, who has been the GIRFT lead since 2017, receives the honour for services to the care of people with skin diseases.

He has been a consultant dermatologist at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for more than 30 years and is a national specialty lead for dermatology for the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR).

He is also a past president of the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) and was named earlier this year as the BAD Clinician of the Year 2024, marking his ongoing contribution to the specialty.

As GIRFT clinical lead, Professor Levell carried out a national review of services across England, conducting meetings with more than 80 dermatology teams. His subsequent GIRFT national report for dermatology (2021) made a series of 23 recommendations aiming to ensure millions of patients with dermatological conditions such as skin cancer, eczema, psoriasis and acne get faster and more equitable access to care.

About the MBE, he said: “Working for the past seven years with GIRFT has been a huge opportunity to improve care for people with skin disease in England. Where we have found excellent care, we have shared the good practice; where hospitals have been struggling, we have been able to offer support. This MBE reflects some of that work.

“Artificial intelligence and other technologies are revolutionising how all hospital staff work. With GIRFT, I will continue to aim for fair NHS access for patients to all the many amazing new treatments for skin disease and skin cancers.”