A CHILDREN’s hospital chief from Northwich has been named in the Queen’s birthday honours list.

Louise Shepherd, chief executive of Alder Hey, has been awarded a CBE for ‘Services to Healthcare’ in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Louise has been in the role since 2008, overseeing the successful development of Europe’s first children’s health park and was also chairman of the National Children’s Hospital Alliance until last year.

Prior to that, she was chief executive of Liverpool Women’s Hospital and deputy chief executive of the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Louise said: “I feel very honoured to have been part of such an incredible team here at Alder Hey.

“Their passion for working with children and young people to do everything we can to improve their health is inspirational. Alder Hey in the Park is testament to their vision and their hard work.”

Louise continues to be a major contributor to the children and young people’s agenda nationally, particularly through the Children’s Hospital Alliance.

Working with the Department of Health she has helped establish Alder Hey as the host organisation for the UK Medicines for Children Research Network (NCRN).

She is a major partner in the wider NHS economy in Cheshire and Merseyside, working tirelessly on the children and young people’s agenda.

More recently Louise was asked to lead the Sustainability and Transformation Planning process for the Cheshire and Merseyside health economy to help make improvements in how health services are planned and delivered for future generations.

Sir David Henshaw, chairman of Alder Hey, said Louise’s leadership has been ‘fundamental’ as Alder Hey has undergone a period of ‘positive change and growth’ in recent years.

He said: “Louise has made an immense contribution to the NHS over 23 years and is an outstanding chief executive of her generation.

“She has been a great source of encouragement and support to me and many others here at Alder Hey.

“It is no exaggeration to say that her hard work and commitment will leave a lasting legacy for future generations of children and young people in Liverpool and further afield.

“We are extremely proud and grateful to have Louise at Alder Hey and I’m sure all my colleagues will join me in congratulating her on such a tremendously well-deserved award.”