Nurse who cared for Aids and HIV victims ‘excited’ over medal

A NURSE who cared for some of the UK’s first Aids and HIV patients, and later treated victims of the 7/7 terror attack has been made an OBE.

Kathryn Halford is among 64 NHS staff honoured in the service’s 70th year.

The 54-year-old, recognised for services to nursing, recalled having to wear protective suits to treat HIV and Aids patients at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington in the early 1980s.

She said: “At that time it was quite scary and sad – the patients were very ill and kept in isolation due to the concerns about infection. It’s a huge difference from what it’s like now.”

Now chief nurse at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRUT), she said she was excited by the honour.

Meanwhile, a former senior police officer who led the response to last year’s terror attacks has been given a knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Mark Rowley was the Metropolitan Police’s Assistant Commissioner for Specialist Operations and national lead for counter-terrorism from June 2014 until his retirement from policing in March.

In his final year in the role, he oversaw the law enforcement response as Britain was hit by five attacks in less than six months.

In addition, counter-terror agencies say they stopped 12 Islamist and four extreme rightwing plots since March 2017.

Sir Mark, who is knighted for services to policing, began his 31year career as a constable with West Midlands Police.

Prior to joining Scotland Yard in 2011 he was Chief Constable of Surrey Police.