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New Year Honours 2020: Military doctor becomes OBE | New Year Honours 2020: Military doctor becomes OBE |
(1 day later) | |
A GP who served for 25 years in the military and has helped provide mental health support for thousands of veterans has been appointed an OBE. | A GP who served for 25 years in the military and has helped provide mental health support for thousands of veterans has been appointed an OBE. |
Dr Jonathan Leach has been recognised for services to general practice. | Dr Jonathan Leach has been recognised for services to general practice. |
As NHS England medical director for military and veterans health, he helped create a network of 600 surgeries to support military veterans. | |
Dr Leach, who works as a GP in Bromsgrove, said he was "stunned, surprised [and] humbled". | Dr Leach, who works as a GP in Bromsgrove, said he was "stunned, surprised [and] humbled". |
The 59-year-old is also joint honorary secretary of the Royal College of General Practitioners. | The 59-year-old is also joint honorary secretary of the Royal College of General Practitioners. |
Dr Leach, who reached the rank of colonel before leaving the military 11 years ago, served in operational tours of Northern Ireland, Yugoslavia and Iraq. | Dr Leach, who reached the rank of colonel before leaving the military 11 years ago, served in operational tours of Northern Ireland, Yugoslavia and Iraq. |
He said his work with veterans had come from his own experiences, adding: "I don't have PTSD, but I have seen some horrid things. | He said his work with veterans had come from his own experiences, adding: "I don't have PTSD, but I have seen some horrid things. |
"The majority of veterans are fine, but there is a very clear minority who need every help, and I saw that while still serving, either here or overseas." | "The majority of veterans are fine, but there is a very clear minority who need every help, and I saw that while still serving, either here or overseas." |
The GP at Davenhal House surgery is married to Susan and has two daughters, one a graphic designer and the other a junior doctor at Hereford County Hospital. | The GP at Davenhal House surgery is married to Susan and has two daughters, one a graphic designer and the other a junior doctor at Hereford County Hospital. |
Also recognised is Dr David Hewett, the co-founder of Intensive Interaction. | |
He has been appointed an OBE for services to people with special educational needs and disabilities. | |
The 67-year-old from Malvern pioneered an approach designed to help people with learning difficulties and autism to develop communication skills. | |
Dr Hewett, along with Dr Melanie Nind, worked on it during his time as the principal of a special educational needs school in Hertfordshire in the 1980s. It is now used by families all over the world. | |
"The feedback families give our associates is wonderful, it can change their lives," he said. | "The feedback families give our associates is wonderful, it can change their lives," he said. |
"What happens is you get a little person, who is often on their own most of the time, become somebody social and lit up and communicative and interactive with their family and that's just fantastic." | "What happens is you get a little person, who is often on their own most of the time, become somebody social and lit up and communicative and interactive with their family and that's just fantastic." |
On receiving the honour, he said: "I was a bit bemused actually, I'm no kind of establishment figure, but it is a wonderful, joyful thing to happen on behalf of the approach and I accept wondrously on behalf what we do and the recognition it brings to us." | On receiving the honour, he said: "I was a bit bemused actually, I'm no kind of establishment figure, but it is a wonderful, joyful thing to happen on behalf of the approach and I accept wondrously on behalf what we do and the recognition it brings to us." |
Other honours recipients from Herefordshire and Worcestershire include: | Other honours recipients from Herefordshire and Worcestershire include: |
Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone. | Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone. |
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