An advanced cardiothoracic practitioner at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) has been awarded an OBE in the New Year's Honours list for 2014.

Tara Bartley, 49, from Leamington Spa has been bestowed with the honour for her services to cardiothoracic surgery and nursing, recognising her work at a national level and as the nursing representative for the Society of Cardiothoracic Surgery in the UK and Ireland.

The married mother of two boys – Lewis, 16, and Miles, 19 – said she was “honoured and overwhelmed” to receive the letter detailing the honour.

Tara, who qualified as a nurse in 1986 at the Royal London, Whitechapel, has gained her experience in Cambridge, Oxford and Coventry, in a variety of disciplines, from general surgery and transplantation to accident and emergency, and intensive care.

Since 2009, Tara has worked at QEHB, helping to develop the role of nursing practitioners within cardiothoracic surgery with the aim of bridging the gaps between medicine and nursing.

Ms Bartley spoke of her award: “It has come completely out of the blue; there are so many brilliant people within the health service doing remarkable work, it is just hard to believe that I have been acknowledged in this way.

“It was such a polarisation of emotions, receiving the letter after arriving home late from work. I thought it might have been a tax letter, but it was such a gracious letter that really left me in shock.

“I went to work the next day with less than four hours' sleep as it dawned on me that I couldn’t tell anybody. When I did tell my husband he said that it is well-deserved but I don’t think I could have achieved what I have done without my family’s love and support.

“The advanced practitioner and surgical care practitioner team, the surgeons and the Trust have also been very supportive of the work that I do to really push the importance of multi-professional care for patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery.”

Dame Julie Moore, Chief Executive of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB), said: “It is a real credit to Tara to be acknowledged in the Honours list.

“Tara has helped create more cohesive and consistent care across the cardiothoracic surgery team, helping to change the experience of the patient for the better which has also fed into work done nationally.

“Tara has become an invaluable source of expertise to the team and her passion for nursing and drive to ensure the best in care has earned Tara this honour.”