A King’s Langley doctor has collected her MBE from Queen Elizabeth for her service to a hospice.

Dr Ros Taylor, director of the Hospice of St Francis in Berkhamsted was given the honour on Friday.

Dr Taylor, who has been director of the hospice for 17 years, was nominated for an MBE in this year’s New Year’s Honours List.

Following her trip to Buckingham Palace, she said: "My few minutes with the Queen were very special. She said she felt that hospice care was very important. She asked where our Hospice was and how fundraising was going...the whole day was glorious, creating unique memories for me, my family and the Hospice.

Dr Taylor added: "I hope to use this honour to continue to raise the profile, not just of the Hospice of St Francis, but of the wider value of hospice and palliative care to the wellbeing of our society."

Under her stewardship the Hospice of St Francis received a good report from the Care Quality Commission when they visited unannounced in February.

The commission, in its conclusion, praised the caring attitudes of the staff and the communication of the doctors.

Dr Taylor said: "This wonderful accolade is not just an honour for me, but also for everyone I’ve worked with at the Hospice of St Francis as well as all the patients and families who have taught me so much over the years, facing illness and loss with resilience and humour, sharing their stories with me and showing me the value of hospice care and the difference it has made to them."

Charles Toner, chairman of trustees at the Hospice of St Francis, added: "This award is a richly deserved recognition of Dr Taylor’s dedication to hospice care. Not only has she developed our own hospice over the past 17 years, keeping it at the forefront of end of life care but she has also had a much wider influence in the medical profession through her trusteeship of Help the Hospices and her teaching and speaking at conferences on both a national and international level. 

"From the sheer number of congratulatory messages which the hospice has received on the phone, via email and on social media from members of the local and wider community, Dr Taylor is highly regarded and a very worthy recipient of an MBE."