Two distinguished women from Northern Ireland have been awarded MBEs in the King's New Year Honours list for their exceptional and long-standing service to health and social care in the region.
Decades of Leadership Recognised
Julie Erskine, the former chairwoman of the Health and Social Care's Business Services Organisation (BSO), is one of the recipients. With over 40 years of experience, Ms Erskine has held senior roles across the private, public, and voluntary sectors. Her pivotal appointment as BSO chair came from the then-health minister Michelle O'Neill in December 2016, a role from which she stood down in November 2025.
Her tenure included steering the BSO through the immense challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, where she was instrumental in overseeing the critical procurement and delivery of personal protective equipment (PPE). Reflecting on her honour, Ms Erskine stated it was "a great honour" and paid tribute to the colleagues she had worked with, saying she took "great pride in the positive difference I have always aspired for."
Championing the Under-Represented
Also receiving an MBE is Eilish Meehan, the HSC demographics service manager at the BSO. Her award recognises a career dedicated to advocating for those who are often under-represented or on the margins of the healthcare system.
Ms Meehan has been a driving force in improving how the health service records information for vulnerable groups. This includes developing better systems for transgender, homeless, and adopted patients, who may have complex needs in managing and tracking their medical histories.
In a humble acceptance, Ms Meehan emphasised that she viewed the award as a collective achievement. She said she accepted it "not as an individual, but to raise the profile of those who work diligently behind the scenes to make a difference to Health and Social Care Services here."
A Legacy of Service
The dual honours highlight the critical, often behind-the-scenes work that sustains Northern Ireland's health and social care infrastructure. Both awards celebrate:
- Decades of dedicated service within the region's NHS.
- Strategic leadership during a national crisis, specifically the pandemic.
- Compassionate innovation aimed at making care more inclusive and effective for all citizens.
The recognition of Julie Erskine and Eilish Meehan in the New Year Honours list underscores the profound impact that committed public servants continue to have on the wellbeing of communities across Northern Ireland.
