MBE for Newcastle woman

MBE for Newcastle woman

15 January 2014

NEWCASTLE woman Pauline Mulholland received an MBE in the New Year Honours.

Pauline, who is the South Eastern Trust’s lead dietician, was awarded the accolade for her contribution to dietetics and healthcare.

She is the British Dietetic Association’s (BDA) constituency council member for Northern Ireland and its vice-chairman, working for many years to raise awareness of malnutrition and improve the quality of people’s nutritional care.

Pauline has also worked at the Department of Health and was asked to take on the role of Lead Allied Health Professions Officer for 12 months before returning to her role with the Trust. While at the Department, she led on the completion of a strategy for the Allied Health Professions in Northern Ireland which was launched in 2012.

Pauline also worked with nursing colleagues from the Royal College of Nursing on improving standards for food served to patients in hospital and in September 2010 was asked to project manage the development of a strategy to address malnutrition in Northern Ireland.

The initiative was launched a year later, making a significant difference to the quality of patient nutrition in all care settings across the Province.

To further support this work, Pauline was was asked to chair a regional working group with the Northern Ireland Professional Education Council (NIPEC) for nurses and midwives to develop guidance and resources to support nutritional screening across all care settings. The guidance was launched by Health Minister Edwin Poots last November.

Pauline said she’s “delighted and humbled” by her honour, explaining she’s “simply been a dietician, working and influencing to improve the nutritional care of people in Northern Ireland. “

She continued: “This honour is not only about me but all the health professionals in health and social care involved in delivering nutritional care to people Northern Ireland and who have supported me.

“Dieticians seldom work alone. We work best in partnership with other health professional colleagues, including nurses, doctors, caterers and other so-called allied health professionals.”

Pauline added: “Dieticians provide expert, specialist advice on nutrition and diet to enable the public and other health professionals ensure good nutritional care across all ages and in all settings.”

Mrs. Mulholland was one of four local people to be honoured in the New Year Honours. Mr. Gerry Cochrane was awarded an MBE for his services to railway preservation and tourism, while BEM’s (British Empire Medals) were awarded to Edna Howard of the Newcastle Glee Singers and Karen Carson, captain of Second Dromara Girls’ Brigade Company.