Senior cancer nurse awarded MBE for 36-year career

The honour has been given in recognition of his services to nursing, including during the Covid response

An experienced cancer nurse, who has worked in the NHS for 36 years has been awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours list.

Mark Foulkes, is Macmillan lead cancer nurse and nurse consultant at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust’s cancer centre.

The honour has been given in recognition of his services to nursing, including during the Covid 19 response.

Mr Foulkes, was president of the UK Oncology Nursing Society between 2021 and 2023 providing leadership colleagues nationwide.

In reaction to his MBE, he said: “I’m very pleased, very proud, and very shocked to have been selected for this award.

"I want to share it and dedicate it to all my fellow cancer nurses across the UK who do amazing work every day, supporting our patients, their families and loved ones, and each other.”

'His compassion is boundless'

In 2015 Mr Foulkes helped to set up the Acute Oncology Service at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, a pilot scheme which has now been rolled out nationally.

Through this work any patient with cancer, anywhere in England, no matter the specialism, is assessed and supported by oncology trained staff.

Also in 2015 he undertook a charity tandem ride, with his colleague Dr Joss Adams, from Reading to Spain raising £17,000 to for a mobile chemotherapy unit in West Berkshire

Mr Foulkes has made Royal Berkshire Hospital one of the first to have holistic needs assessments as a way to listen to, and address the needs and concerns of people living with cancer.

Katie Prichard-Thomas, chief nursing officer at the trust, said: “Mark is an inspiration to his colleagues, a staunch supporter for oncology nursing, and a passionate advocate for patients with cancer.

“His compassion is boundless, and Mark has 7,000 colleagues who are very proud to have him as part of the team at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

"We are delighted he has been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours, it’s so well-deserved.”