Lynne Radbone, Principal Paediatric Dietitian at CUH was awarded an MBE in the 2022 New Year Honours list for services to premature and sick babies.
Lynne started work at Addenbrooke's in 1988 as the trust’s sole children’s dietitian. Since then the team has grown to 24 paediatric dietitians., who provide local, regional and national level services to babies, children, young people and their families.
During her 33 years at CUH, Lynne’s work has focussed on neonatal care, and in particular, highlighting the nutritional needs of tiny babies within the neonatal critical care unit.
She said: " I am delighted to accept this award, not only for myself, but on behalf of everyone within the CUH paediatric dietetic team, my national neonatal dietetic colleagues and the wider East of England neonatal network community.
"All of these people have worked, and continue to work with me to promote the vital role nutritional management plays in the successful outcome of preterm infant care.”
Much of Lynne’s work has been helping to develop national strategies that highlight the role of nutrition in caring for preterm infants, and the vital role played by dietitians within the neonatal team.
Lynne has developed and co-led the first ever Masters teaching module in Neonatal Nutrition, helped put together clinical competencies and national workforce standards for dietitians and other allied health professionals, and has sat national working groups leading to the publication of new guidelines.
Caroline Heyes, CUH Dietetic Services Manager, said: "This is a very fitting tribute to the work Lynne has done over her 33 years as a member of our team. Lynne has given her time generously to share knowledge and expertise through her involvement in national neonatal nutrition education, professional bodies, and the development of national neonatal standards and toolkits working with NICE, DHSC and the British Association of Perinatal Medicine, to name just a few.
“Her energy and commitment to supporting and improving CUH services for neonates and children will leave a lasting legacy, not just for us at CUH, but nationally.”
Lynne leaves CUH at the end of January to take up the post of Lead Neonatal Dietitian for the East of England Operational Delivery Network.