National achievements

Dr Andrew Goddard, consultant gastroenterologist at UHDB and president of Royal College of Physicians, has been knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to health and social care.

Dr Goddard has been recognised as one of the UK’s leading gastroenterologists and has been praised for his ‘outstanding’ leadership during the pandemic, helping unite all parts of the system, while continuing to provide care for Covid-19 patients.

He is the first president of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) from the East Midlands and has been a strong advocate for workforce development, diversity and inclusion and reduction in health inequalities.

Dr Goddard said: “I'm completely humbled by this honour as all the work I have been involved with over the past 20 years has involved so many others. I do, though, see it as a recognition of all the physician workforce did in response to the pandemic and the issues it highlighted, including health inequality and workforce shortages. The pandemic brought out the best in physicians and I have never been prouder to be one.

“No-one can even start to make an impact at a national level without many people working, usually unseen, to support them. I would like to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to all the staff at the RCP, my long-suffering clinical and admin colleagues at UHDB and my even more long-suffering family for all they have done for me over the years. 

“I have been so very fortunate to work with many brilliant and inspirational people in my career, some of whom are sadly no longer with us. I hope their contributions are seen in what we have achieved together: this honour would not have been possible without their work, love and support.” 

Dr Kathy McLean, Chair at UHDB, said: “We are extremely proud of Dr Goddard who thoroughly deserves this award. He is a brilliant physician and has shared his skills, influence, and leadership nationally but continues to have a massively positive impact here within UHDB.  At the heart of everything he does is patient care, and he exemplifies our values. The Trust Board and I extend our warmest congratulations to Dr Goddard on this fantastic and richly deserved award.”

After qualifying at Cambridge University, Dr Goddard trained in East Anglia and the East Midlands, gaining an MD whilst working in Nottingham. He was appointed as consultant physician and gastroenterologist at Royal Derby Hospital in 2002.

In 2018 he was elected the 121st RCP president, the youngest for 400 years and first from the East Midlands. In the same year he was made an Honorary Professor at the University of Nottingham.

His lasting contributions include developing the annual workforce census of physicians, helping create the Faculty of Physician Associates and practical support for the wellbeing of doctors. This has been recognised by honorary fellowship of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine.

In 2020 he worked to establish the Inequalities in Health Alliance that now has over 200 member organisations and is the largest advocating group on health inequalities in the UK.

He has also been praised for championing virtual consultations and being a ‘strong advocate for the international medical graduate training scheme, promoting improved workforce numbers in the NHS, while facilitating excellent training for international trainees’.

Dr Magnus Harrison, Interim CEO at UHDB, said: “I am delighted that Dr Goddard’s work has been recognised in this way and I know that his achievements will have a positive impact for other physicians and patients for many years to come.

“Dr Goddard provided a voice for frontline NHS staff at a national level during the pandemic and has been an advocate for delivering exceptional patient care throughout. His dedication to diversity and inclusion has been exemplary and his positive manner and incredible leadership really epitomises our UHDB values.”