An Ayr professor has received one of the highest accolades in the UK after being honoured with a Commander of the Order of the British Empire award (CBE) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Professor Fiona McQueen, lately the Chief Nursing Officer for Scotland, is among those awarded a CBE, for services to the NHS in Scotland.

The CBE is the highest ranking Order of the British Empire award (excluding a knighthood/damehood), followed by OBE and then MBE. The CBE is awarded to individuals for having a prominent role at national level, or a leading role at regional level.

Professor McQueen worked closely with the government on the pandemic response before retiring from her role in February this year after seven years in the job.

She was originally scheduled to leave in June 2020 but stayed on to assist throughout the coronavirus crisis.

Prior to her initial appointment as interim Chief Nursing Officer in November 2014, the 58-year-old served as Executive Nurse Director for NHS Ayrshire and Arran for more than a decade.

Nicola Sturgeon voiced her congratulations to all the award recipients in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list, saying: “The Queen’s Birthday Honours recognise the outstanding contributions of the people of Scotland to communities throughout the country, and around the world.

“Their exceptional service and dedication in a range of fields including the arts, education, business, charity, community support, and science has provided countless benefits across society.

“I’m also pleased to see that many individuals who have helped our work to tackle the coronavirus pandemic have been recognised.

“I know we are all hugely grateful to each and every one of them, and it is right that their stellar efforts have been acknowledged in this way.

“Our emergency services have always gone above and beyond the call of duty to keep people and communities across Scotland safe, and never more so than during these unprecedented times.

“I also want to extend my congratulations to those personnel who have been awarded The Queen’s Fire, Police or Ambulance Service Medals.”

The awards were announced on Friday, ahead of the Queen’s ‘official’ birthday on Saturday, June 12.

Queen Elizabeth II was born on April 21, 1926, but celebrates two birthdays. It’s a tradition that first came about in 1748 when King George II, whose birthday was in Autumn, and so not suitable for a big outdoor party, decided to celebrate a second birthday, to be combined with the Trooping the Colour parade in summer.

As well as the Birthday Honours list there is the New Year’s Honours list.

Candidates are identified by public or private bodies, by government departments, or are nominated by members of the public.