New Year Honours for two NHS Education for Scotland colleagues

New Year Honours for two NHS Education for Scotland colleagues

Congratulations to Ruth Robertson (pictured left) and Dr Pauline Wilson (pictured right) who have been recognised in the New Year Honours List 2025. 

Ruth, former Head of Programme, Health Protection, NMAHP Directorate was awarded Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)) for services to Public Health and Health Protection in Scotland. 

Pauline, Consultant Physician, NHS Shetland and NES Associate Postgraduate Dean for Remote and Rural Credentialing has been awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her outstanding contributions to medicine.  

Ruth Robertson 

Before her retirement in December 2023, Ruth held a joint post with NES and Public Health Scotland (formerly Health Protection Scotland) for the past 15 years.  

Karen Wilson, NES Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director of Nursing said: 

"Ruth has worked in Health Protection for over 30 years and has had a significant influence in education and workforce development in NHS Scotland and beyond. She was instrumental in establishing the Covid-19 vaccination programme, providing the resources to skill up hundreds of staff and volunteers at pace. This and other work Ruth led have created a strong legacy that has been recognised for significantly contributing to the improvement and protection of health and wellbeing for individuals, sharing best practice, benefitting the population of Scotland, the UK and internationally." 

Dr Pauline Wilson 

Pauline is known for her contributions to rural healthcare and medical education. She holds several key roles, including Associate Medical Director (Acute) and Director of Medical Education for NHS Shetland, Associate Postgraduate Dean for Remote and Rural Credentialing for NHS Education for Scotland (NES), and Rural Advisor to the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh. 

The New Year Honours recognition highlights Pauline’s dedication as a Consultant Physician at the Gilbert Bain Hospital, her significant role in advancing the work of The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, and her lifelong commitment to healthcare in remote and rural communities. 

Professor Emma Watson, Executive Medical Director, NES said:

"Pauline has been an ardent supporter of the delivery of excellent healthcare in rural communities for many years. Building on her ambition that every person in rural communities should have the same access to high quality health care as their urban counterparts, she has advocated for the delivery of healthcare professional education in rural communities. Pauline has led the development and delivery of the remote and rural credential (the first GMC-approved credential) across the UK. The credential recognises the additional skills needed to deliver care in remote and rural communities and supports doctors practising in these environments to gain and have the additional skills recognised."

 

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