Barbara Monroe, Chief Executive of St Christopher’s Hospice awarded Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in Queen’s Birthday 2010 Honours list

St Christopher’s Chief Executive Barbara Monroe has been appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s Birthday 2010 Honours list for services to palliative care. 

Barbara has been a social worker for over 30 years. She joined St Christopher’s Hospice in 1987 and became Chief Executive in 2000. She is founder and Director of the Candle children’s bereavement project at St Christopher’s and was Chair of the national Childhood Bereavement Network for eight years. She is Module Leader on the MSc in Palliative Care and Policy run jointly by St Christopher’s and King’s College London. Barbara is a well-known speaker and lecturer and has delivered training programmes across the world. She has written extensively about psychological and social aspects of palliative care and sits on a variety of national committees supporting the development of end of life care. Barbara is an Honorary Professor at the International Observatory on End of Life Care at Lancaster University and has a long term interest in how we achieve ‘good enough’ end of life care for all.

On the announcement of the award, Dame Barbara Monroe DBE said; “I am thrilled and proud to receive this award. It recognises the importance of good care at the end of life for everyone and the significance of the work that hospices nationally and internationally do to achieve this”  

Rod Bennion, Chair of the Management Council of St Christopher’s said; “I was delighted to hear that Barbara had been appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. She works tirelessly not only in her role at St Christopher’s but in the wider area of palliative care both nationally and internationally. This award is richly deserved.”

Says Penny Hansford, St Christopher’s Director of Nursing: “I am thrilled that Barbara has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. She deserves this recognition for her outstanding achievements and contribution to palliative care, bereavement services and social work. St Christopher’s is very fortunate to have someone like Barbara with her wide ranging knowledge and experience at the helm. On behalf of everyone at St Christopher’s, I would like to congratulate Barbara on such a wonderful achievement”