New Year’s Honour recognition for Rhoda

Published: 11 January 2022

Dr Rhoda Allison, Associate Director of Nursing and Professional Practice, at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, has been awarded an MBE in the Queens’s new year’s honours list for her services to physiotherapy.

Liz Davenport, Chief Executive, Torbay and South NHS Devon Foundation Trust, said: “We are delighted and proud for Rhoda and sincerely congratulate her on being given such a prestigious award. Rhoda has worked with us for over 23 years and is highly regarded for her outstanding contribution to stroke rehabilitation. The work she pioneered here in South Devon has become a ‘gold standard’ model for the rest of the country.

“She is also a much valued colleague whose commitment to focusing on what matters to our staff, patients and carers is making a real difference to how we support people to live well.”

Deborah Kelly, Chief Nurse, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Rhoda is a fantastic colleague and a great asset to our organisation, and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate her on being awarded an MBE from the Queen. This is a wonderful achievement and very well deserved. During her time with us, Rhoda’s work has made a significant improvement to the care we provide for the people of Torbay and South Devon, in the field of stroke and brain injury rehabilitation and to best practice nationally. She really has gone above and beyond, and her commitment and dedication are exemplary.”

Rhoda was awarded a fellowship from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy in 2019 for her contribution to the development of national policy, clinical guidelines, and quality assurance for stroke and brain injury services. She has also designed and undertaken her own research programmes.

The citation describes her as ‘an inspirational physiotherapy clinician, leader and researcher in the field of stroke and acquired brain injury rehabilitation’.

It adds: “While there are many physiotherapists working in the field, her contribution over the last twenty years has gone well beyond that expected even of an expert clinician.”

Rhoda says of the award: “I am humbled by this recognition, particularly in the currently climate when I am surrounded by health and social care professionals all going the extra mile, every day. I have been inspired by the people I work with and by the patients and carers I have met during my career.”

Locally Rhoda, who lives in Teignmouth, has worked across South Devon with people who are recovering from brain injuries and other neurological conditions, liaising with groups such as the Torbay Stroke Support Group.