A consultant at the Royal United Hospital in Bath has been awarded an OBE for service to Anaesthesia during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
Professor Tim Cook | Photo courtesy of the RUH
Professor Tim Cook, who has been a consultant in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine at the RUH since 1998, said: “It is very humbling to receive this honour. Teams of staff throughout the hospital have worked tirelessly to provide high quality compassionate care for patients with COVID-19.
“This has led to outstanding care, many lives saved and innumerable families supported. In Bath this has required teamwork at all levels across the hospitals and this will be mirrored across the whole NHS.”
Professor Cook’s work over the past 18 months has included, at the start of the pandemic, maximising preparedness for anaesthesia and critical care working together, and identifying COVID-19 risks to healthcare workers in particular the high impact on ethnic minorities and frontline staff.
He was involved in providing clear and early guidance on how to anaesthetise patients with COVID-19 and prepare them for ICU treatment.
The guidance was the first such globally and has been widely used internationally. He also provided national advice about personal protective equipment, the risk to anaesthetists and ICU staff, restarting elective surgery in summer 2020 and spring 2021, preparation for the second surge and the impact of shielding on staff and organisations.
Working with teams in Bristol and Sydney, his work has highlighted the risk of spread of disease by aerosols and the importance of staff protection and ventilation within hospital settings.
He said: “Clearly, I work with numerous and diverse teams. I firmly believe that collaboration is the key to any and all success. Any award therefore reflects the work of teams rather than individuals.
“I thank all the members of the teams I have worked with for their skill, sacrifice and dedication and my family for the constant support they have provided.”
RUH Chief Executive Cara Charles-Barks said: “I’m delighted that Tim has been honoured – his OBE is well-deserved and a tribute to his outstanding work not just in the past 18 months but in his entire career at the RUH.
“It is also recognition of the immense efforts and professionalism of all in our critical care service during the pandemic. Congratulations and our thanks to Tim and all in the team.”
