Fellow Bardai Brahmin Dr Nalini Jitendra Modha, from the Thistlemoor Medical Centre in Thistlemoor Road, Peterborough (UK), has been awarded an MBE in the 2020 New Year’s Honours list for services to the National Health Service (NHS).
She started running the surgery with her husband 25 years ago when it had just 700 patients. It has now grown to 27,000 registered patients and is a family run practice, with her husband Dr Jitendra and son Dr Neil Modha both working beside her.
The surgery has an outstanding Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating. The practice population is distinct; 80 per cent of patients do not speak English as their first language. At the age of 50, she became personally accredited by the Royal College of General Practitioners.
Caring for patients is the top priority for herself and the team. The surgery has more than 100 staff members, 85 of whom are patient facing. The team see up to 600 patients in a single morning, with no appointments, dealing with everything health related.
Dr Modha visited America, and after working with Harvard University, implemented what she learnt there in to the Peterborough surgery. At the age of 53, she made the practice a training practice to develop hospital doctors and future GPs, and has personally trained over 300 healthcare assistants. Many have gone on to become nurses, work in general practice and in different sectors within the NHS.
Between 1992 and 2002 she worked as a police surgeon, and was involved in more than 800 rape and child abuse cases throughout her career.
She works closely with the local charitable organisations such as the Salvation Army as well as working with local schools.
What is an MBE?
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It is also awarded to someone for making a positive impact in their line of work. It was established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. A silver medal is presented, and the awardee can use ‘MBE’ after their name.
The full honours list consists of knights and dames, appointments to the Order of the British Empire and gallantry and bravery awards. Different people win different awards depending what they have done. The main awards include:
- Companion of Honour
- Knight or Dame
- Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE)
- Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE)
- Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE)
- British Empire Medal (BEM)
The decision about who gets an honour, and the type of honour they get, is made by a special honours committee. The committee’s decisions go to the UK Prime Minister and then finally to the Queen.
There are 2 honours lists finalised per year, the New Year’s honours list and the Queen’s birthday honours list in June. Approximately 1300 people are recognised in each list.
Our Samaj congratulates Dr Nalini Modha in achieving her MBE.