A DOCTOR from Okehampton has been awarded a CBE and a community volunteer from Drewsteignton has been awarded a BEM on the 2014 New Year's Honours list.

Dr Paula Vasco-Knight is Torbay Hospital's chief executive and NHS England's national lead for equality. She was given the CBE for her work across the NHS both as an ambassador for equality and diversity within NHS England and as an innovative chief executive.

Having worked as a nurse and NHS leader for the last 25 years, Dr Vasco-Knight became the first BME female chief executive of South Devon Healthcare Foundation Trust in 2008.

She is the only female chief executive in the NHS with an African heritage.

The daughter of a Nigerian father and an English mother, Dr Vasco-Knight started her career as a nurse in the 1980s. After working her way up to executive level she took a role at NHS England in July 2012.

From her post she works hard to promote the diversity agenda within the NHS workforce as well as striving to reduce health inequalities for patients.

She said: 'I would like to think that an award like this, for a woman from a mixed-race background, demonstrates that anything is possible. It is therefore a tribute to the dedication of my colleagues at NHS England and across the NHS, who work with great dedication and commitment to promoting equality for all and to tackling health inequalities.

'I was genuinely delighted and surprised to be honoured in this way.

'I regard this also as recognition for the work of all 4,000 of my colleagues in South Devon Healthcare, who work tirelessly day in and day out for our local community.'

Since she took up post as chief executive, Dr Vasco-Knight has helped her trust scoop six major healthcare awards, and she herself was recently named on the Health Service Journal's 'Most Inspirational Women in Healthcare' list for 2013.

People from black and minority ethnic backgrounds make up 18% of the NHS workforce, though very few have board level positions.

Dr Vasco-Knight promotes NHS England's message on tackling the issue of diversity, and is pushing for it to be on the agenda of every chief executive in the country.

Dr Vasco-Knight said: 'Equality and diversity is a key focus for NHS England and ought to be up there for every chief executive.

'Our population is diverse and our workforce needs to reflect this to offer the best patient care it can. We are committed to making the NHS a leader in staff diversity and are looking forward to a very productive 2014.'

Marjorie Smith from Drewsteignton has been awarded a British Empire Medal for her services to the community.

Marjorie is a member of Drewsteignton Parish Council, and has been involved with community fundraising projects, including raising funds for the renovation of Holy Trinity Church's 16th century royal coat of arms, which hangs over the church's south door.

The panel is one of only a handful of its type in Devon still surviving today, and Marjorie, along with fellow parishioner Jane Cox, led a group of fundraisers to fund the restoration project.