A consultant cardiologist at Watford General Hospital has been awarded an OBE in the King's Birthday Honours in recognition of his outstanding services to healthcare and the NHS.
Dr Niall Keenan, consultant cardiologist and divisional director for medicine services at West Herts Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, received the honour for his commitment to delivering exceptional patient care.
D Keenan’s contributions include helping to ensure patients have access to the latest diagnostic techniques and treatments closer to home. He has also played a pivotal role in developing and advancing cardiology services at West Herts.
Dr Keenan has been a consultant cardiologist at the Trust since 2014, as well as an honorary clinical senior lecturer at Imperial College London. He qualified from the University of Oxford in 2001 and completed cardiology and general medical training in London. He set up the Cardiac CT and CMR Unit at West Herts in 2016.
Commenting on his honour, Niall said: “I was deeply honoured to receive this award from His Majesty the King. I am accepting it on behalf of myself and my family, but more importantly on behalf of all the thousands of NHS staff at West Herts, and the 1,300 staff in the Medicine Division which it is my privilege to lead.
“West Herts is an outstanding Trust. I know how hard everyone is working to improve the lives of our patients and from the bottom of my heart I want to say, “thank you.””
Mike van der Watt, Chief Medical Officer at West Herts said: “Niall's award is richly deserved and reflects his outstanding contribution to healthcare over many years. He is a highly respected clinician, leader and innovator whose work has improved the lives of countless patients across West Hertfordshire and beyond.
“On behalf of colleagues across the Trust, I would like to congratulate Niall on this remarkable achievement and thank him for his dedication, leadership and service to the NHS.”