Lt Col Jeyasankar Jeyanathan honoured with an OBE
Congratulations to Lt Col Jeyasankar Jeyanathan, St George’s Consultant In Anaesthetics and Intensive Care Medicine, who has received an OBE in His Majesty The King’s first New Year Honours List.
Jey Jeyanathan, a Lieutenant Colonel who has served over twenty years in the British Army, was one of a select number of military personnel to be awarded this huge honour in recognition of his body of work and more recently his relentless endeavour throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jey Jeyanathan was first placed at St George’s as a Defence Senior Registrar in 2011. He is now a consultant in intensive care medicine and anaesthesia. Alongside this, Jey Jeyanathan works for the Kent, Surry and Sussex Air Ambulance Charity as a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service doctor.
Jey Jeyanathan also played a major role in developing transfer services for critically ill patients to manage bed shortages across the South East, and led the Air Ambulance Adult Critical Care Transfer Service during the height of the pandemic.
Dr Dominic Spray, Clinical Director of Adult Critical Care at St George’s, said:
“Within Critical Care at St George’s, we are delighted that Jey’s outstanding contribution throughout his military career and during the COVID pandemic has been recognised by the award of his OBE.
“During the COVID pandemic, in addition to working an extended full-time rota as a Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine at St George’s caring for critically ill patients, Jey was instrumental in establishing the Critical Care Transfer service to ensure access to ICU beds for all patients across London, whilst also continuing to work as a frontline doctor for the Kent, Surrey and Sussex HEMS Air Ambulance.
“There is no doubt that many lives have been saved as a result of Jey’s selfless commitment, hard work, and leadership. Jey is an individual to whom service to the community lies at the very core of his being and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this award.”
David Welch, CEO of KSS, said:
“On behalf of Team KSS, I would like to congratulate Jey on this well-deserved honour. We are incredibly proud of his achievements and his extraordinary contribution to our healthcare service.
“Jey not only worked tirelessly to maintain essential emergency services during the pandemic but also innovated our service at a crucial time, alleviating some of the pressures experienced by the NHS. Many lives were saved as a result of his leadership, graft and tenacity during the COVID waves.”
A full list of all those who were recognised in His Majesty The Kings first New Years Honours List can be found on the Cabinet Office website.