Nurse Lesley Benham of Dorchester and healthcare boss Angela Dupont of Beaminster were made MBEs for their efforts to improve health services in Dorset.
Lesley is Team Leader at Melcombe Day Hospital in Weymouth, and over the past 10 years she has transformed the Hospital for people with dementia. She writes articles for the Journal of Dementia Care and has numerous awards including, Department of Health Nurse of the Year and The Queen’s Nursing Institute/Alzheimer’s Society Award for Excellence and Innovation in Dementia Care.
Her ideas have turned the hospital into a relaxing care area, according to colleagues who say Mrs Benham has a huge impact of everyone she meets. The dementia unit provides mental stimulation and therapy through a varied programme that includes board games, musical entertainment, puppets and memory boxes.
Angela Dupont is a former stockbroker. She moved to Dorset with her husband Bill and two young children in 1990 but rather than relaxing she committed herself to health matters.
Mrs Dupont worked in mental and community health services in Dorset as a non-executive director, before being appointed as Chairman of Yeovil District Hospital in November 1997. She was appointed to the role again when the hospital became a NHS Foundation Trust in 2006. Mrs Dupont, 62, was a trustee of Weldmar Hospicecare Trust and also sat on the board of Magna Housing Association. She holds the role of Deputy Lieutenant of Dorset.