Royal Derby Hospital doctor honoured with MBE
An Emergency Medicine Consultant at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton has been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to Emergency Medicine in the Birthday 2019 Honours List.
Miss Susanne Hewitt trained in Emergency Medicine in Nottingham and Derby and in 1995 took up a Consultant post in Emergency Medicine with a special interest in the care of children and young people at the Derby Royal Infirmary.
Miss Hewitt said: “I am privileged to have been awarded an MBE for services to Emergency Medicine in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours. I have worked with many outstanding people during my career and this honour recognises the team work and commitment involved in delivering high quality and compassionate emergency care. I am incredibly proud to be recognised in this way and that I have been able to make a difference.”
Miss Hewitt trained in Manchester and qualified with an Honours degree in Medicine and was the first woman to be appointed as a Consultant in Emergency Medicine at the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, and at the time the youngest ever Consultant appointed at the hospital.
During this time Miss Hewitt led on the 10 year project to redesign the new build Emergency Department and played a key role in safely relocating acute services to the Royal Derby Hospital in 2009.
One of Miss Hewitt’s achievements includes developing an innovative concept for a rapid assessment “pitstop” in the ED to enhance efficiency, safety and the patient experience.
Derby was the first department in the UK to implement this model of care, now established practice for rapid assessment and triage in Emergency Medicine.
Dr Magnus Harrison, Executive Medical Director and Emergency Medicine Consultant, said: “Miss Hewitt is everything you would want to see in an Emergency Medicine Consultant. She treats each and every member of the Emergency Medicine team with respect and has created an environment where everyone can flourish, recognising the unique relationship with patients; she promotes high standards of care for all but especially for the most challenging or vulnerable. Miss Hewitt is a role model for the next generation of doctors in training through her professionalism and dedication and this honour is welcome recognition for her contribution to Emergency Medicine.”
Miss Hewitt contributes to the work of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) in a number of areas, including revalidation, professional standards and sustainable working practices. In 2017 Miss Hewitt was awarded the RCEM President’s medal for her contribution to Emergency Medicine.