Editor's note, 31 December 2020: This article was updated with additional recipients.

The work of more than a hundred health and social care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic has been recognised in this year's New Year Honours.

They include a British Empire Medal (BEM) for Cath Fitzsimmons from Greater Manchester, a former palliative care nurse who came out of retirement for COVID-19.

Also awarded a BEM was Dr Azeem Alam, a junior doctor at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, who founded BiteMedicine, providing free medical education for medical students during the pandemic.

An MBE went to Jacky Coping from Suffolk, a deputy director of nursing, who initiated Face Fit Testing at the James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to help ensure that frontline workers were properly protected against COVID-19.

Public sector workers, including medical professionals, make up 14.8% of the list mainly for the way they responded to the pandemic.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "In a year when so many have made sacrifices to protect our NHS and save people's lives, the outstanding efforts of those receiving honours today are a welcome reminder of the strength of human spirit, and of what can be achieved through courage and compassion."

Prof Paul Cosford was knighted for services to public health. Prof Cosford was lately emeritus medical director for Public Health England (PHE).

He joined PHE in 2012 after leading the national and local delivery of health protection services within the Health Protection Agency.

Among others to be honoured who'll receiveMBEs were:

Captain Emma Henderson, from Moray in Scotland, for founding Project Wingman, creating a 'first class' lounge experience in hospitals in the UK for NHS workers

Dr Fiona Dempsey, consultant in intensive care medicine and anaesthesia, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust forservices to the NHS

Dr Thomas Best, clinical director critical care, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for services to critical care, particularly during COVID-19

Professor Tamas Szakmany, critical care consultant, Royal Gwent Hospital forservices to the NHS during COVID-19

Other health and social care professionals have been honoured with OBEs.

Prof Partha Kar, a consultant and endocrinologist at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, was honoured with an OBE for services to people with diabetes, and told Medscape News UK he was "humbled and grateful for all the love and support I have received from those living with diabetes".

Prof Kar, a national specialist adviser on diabetes care for NHS England, pioneered the use of continuous glucose monitoring devices in the NHS.

He added that it had been "a long way from growing up in Kolkata, India, to having one of the highest honours in the UK".

Among other OBE recipients were:

Prof Wendy Bickmore, director of the Medical Research Council's Human Genetics Unit at the University of Edinburgh

Prof Wendy Burn, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists

Prof Ian Finlay, consultant surgeon at Glasgow Royal Infirmary

Usha Goswami, professor of cognitive developmental neuroscience at the University of Cambridge

Anthony Campbell, honorary research professor at Cardiff University

Robert Champion, founder of the prostate cancer charity, Bob Champion Cancer Trust

Dr Shikandhini Kanagasundrem, director, infection prevention and control and consultant microbiologist at the Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

Harjinder Kaur Kandola, chief executive, Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust, for services to mental health, particularly during the COVID-19 response

Francesca Gabrielle Happe, professor of cognitive neuroscience at King's College London, for services to the study of autism

Dr Timothy Ho, medical director at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, for services to the NHS during COVID-19

Stephen Holmes, service director for adult social care at Northumberland County Council for services during the pandemic

Dr Gareth Hynes, specialty registrar at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, for services to medical education during COVID-19

Dr Michael Paul Weekes, infectious diseases clinician at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Michelle Johnson, chief nurse at the Whittington Health NHS Trust, for services to nursing, particularly during the pandemic

Sara Jane Robertson, matron at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, for services to nursing during COVID-19

Ramani Moonesinghe, professor of perioperative medicine and consultant anaesthetist, University College London for services to anaesthesia, perioperative, and critical care

Paul Charles Tunstell, associate chief pharmacist at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust for services during the COVID-19 pandemic

Professor ChrisMoran,National Clinical Director for Trauma, NHS England and NHS Improvementforservices to trauma surgery

"As we begin a new year and continue to come together to fight this virus, may their service and stories be an inspiration to us all," Mr Johnson commented.

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Health and Social Care Professionals Recognised in New Year Honours - Medscape