8 January 2026

King’s Health Partners and SC1 London personnel and alumni have been recognised in the 2026 New Year Honours.

The New Year Honours List for 2026 recognises the accomplishments and service of extraordinary people across the UK.   

Amanda Pritchard, Chief Executive of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (NHS FT), has been made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in recognition of her service to the NHS since starting her career in 1997 and including her service as Chief Executive of NHS England.

Amanda Pritchard said:

“I am deeply honoured to receive this award, which reflects the extraordinary achievements of so many people across the NHS past and present. The health service cares for over 1.7m people every day, with dedicated staff going above and beyond, time and again, for patients and their families.”

Cllr Claire Holland, the Leader of Lambeth Council and co-chair of SC1 London Health and Life Sciences Innovation District, has been awarded an OBE for her service to local government in both her home borough and across London. Cllr Holland has been the leader of Lambeth Council since 2021 and is the co-chair, alongside Prof Graham Lord, of SC1 London, a growing ecosystem dedicated to world-leading innovation in health and life sciences in south central London.

Cllr Holland said:

“I am extremely honoured to be awarded an OBE from His Majesty the King. It is a very humbling and proud moment to be recognised in this way and I am hugely grateful to everyone who has worked with me and supported me throughout my time working in the community and on the council.”

Prof Graham Lord, Executive Director, King’s Health Partners, said:

“I offer my heartfelt congratulations to all those recognised in 2026 New Year Honours, including KHP Board Member Amanda Pritchard and my SC1 co-chair Cllr Holland. These honours are recognition of their dedication to public service and their commitment to enabling people to live, work, and thrive. As we work together to reimagine how healthcare is delivered in London, our institutions and communities benefit hugely from their expertise and insight.”

Congratulations also go to Simon Friend, a Non-Executive Director on the Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS FT Board, who has also been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in recognition of his years of service to charity.

A number of health and life science academics and researchers across King’s Health Partners, hosted in a variety of King’s College London faculties, were also honoured. These included:

  • Prof Ann McNeill, Professor of Tobacco Addiction in the Department of Addictions, has been awarded a CBE for Services to Addiction and Mental Health.
  • Prof Tara Frances Renton, Emeritus Professor in Oral Surgery, has received an OBE for Services to Dentistry.
  • Prof Kei (Kwangwook) Cho, Professor of Neuroscience in the Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, has been awarded an MBE for Services to UK/Korea Relations in the areas of Science and Health.
  • Prof Julia Verne, Visiting Professor of Public Health approaches to Palliative Care and Hepatology at the Cicely Saunders Institute (CSI), has been awarded an MBE for Services to End of Life Care and Public Health.
  • Mr Lorenzo Garagnani, consultant orthopaedic hand and wrist surgeon at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS FT and Honorary Reader in the Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, receives an MBE for Services to Children with Hand and Upper Limb Differences.

Prof Matthew Hotopf, Deputy Executive Director, King's Health Partners, said: 

“I am delighted to see recognition of so many academics and researchers working across King’s Health Partners. These honours reflect the rich and extensive breadth of research being undertaken across our faculties as we look for innovations and solutions to some of the most pressing health challenges of our times.”

Read the full list of King’s College London staff recognised.

Find out more about Amanda and Simon’s work on the Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS FT website.

Find out more about Cllr Claire Holland on the Lambeth Council website.