A Lancaster health professor will receive the British Empire Medal at a prestigious ceremony next week.
Prof Dominic Harrison was recognised earlier this year with the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the King’s Birthday Honours List, for services to vulnerable people in Lancashire, after his work during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dominic served as the Director of Public Health for Blackburn with Darwen, both with the Council and through the local NHS Care Trust Plus, from 2010 until his retirement in March 2022.
Next Friday (October 20), the historic and majestic setting of Lancaster Castle will host the prestigious Honours ceremony.
In the magnificent Shire Hall, the newly installed Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire, Mrs Amanda Parker, will be presenting British Empire Medals (BEM) to Professor Harrison and other recipients, on behalf of His Majesty the King.
Mrs Parker said: "I am delighted that the contribution of so many people from Lancashire has been recognised by the award of national honours. It will be a privilege to present them on behalf of His Majesty the King".
Joining Mrs Parker on the evening will be the Chairman of Lancashire County Council, Alan Cullens BEM; the High Sheriff of Lancashire, Mr David Taylor CBE DL; and the Vice Lord-Lieutenant, Mrs Christine Kirk DL, as well as a number of Deputy Lieutenants from across the county.
Dominic led the public health response in Blackburn with Darwen throughout the Covid pandemic. The borough was hit particularly hard during the first 12-18 months of the pandemic and found itself with tighter Covid-19 restrictions for longer periods than any other area of England.
As Director of Public Health, Dominic’s contribution to Blackburn with Darwen’s Covid-19 response was outstanding. He worked tirelessly in support of the diverse communities of our borough, fighting their corner and never allowing the finger of blame for higher levels of infection to be pointed at any section of our community.
Dominic used his role to highlight the impact of existing long-term health and structural inequalities within the borough in driving transmission and exacerbating the impact of the Coronavirus.
Throughout Dominic was professional, passionate and committed, as well as sympathetic to the concerns of the borough’s diverse communities, and as a result was able to influence local and national policy makers.
‘’I am very grateful to be awarded the BEM in the King’s Birthday 2023 Honours list for work for vulnerable communities particularly in relation to social and health inequalities,’’ said Prof Harrison.
‘’I consider this a recognition of the whole of the Blackburn with Darwen Public Health team’s work on inequalities in health over the past decade.
‘’As a catholic Christian, I believe that we are all born equal and that ‘every single person’s life is as precious to God as every other person’s’. This belief has profound implications.
‘’The way society and the economy are organised can, unfairly and avoidably, make some of us too comfortable and some of us too vulnerable. In order to create equal life chances for all, a good Director of Public Health will often need to ‘comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.’’
The BEM rewards an achievement or contribution of a 'hands-on' service to the community in a local geographical area.
This might take the form of sustained commitment in support of local charitable and/or voluntary activity, or innovative work that has delivered real impact.
At all levels, awards illuminate areas of dedicated service which merit public recognition.
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