TWO years ago, Helen Hamilton received the highest honour the Royal College of Nursing can bestow. Now she has been awarded the CBE.

Mrs Hamilton, of Duns Tew, near Banbury, received a RCN Fellowship at the college's annual meeting in Belfast for her outstanding contribution in revolutionising intravenous care of patients facing surgery.

For 20 years the clinical nurse specialist worked in intensive care at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital, and used her skills and knowledge to allow nursing staff to give patients, who were unable to eat, intravenous nutrition. This was once only carried out by doctors.

Mrs Hamilton, together with colleague Jill Kayley, an independent nurse consultant, helped devise better patient intravenous care at the bedside prior to operations, something which had previously been done under anaesthetic. The practice is now well-established and she advises staff at the county's five hospitals.

The impact of her work, and her training of other nurses, radically reduced infection and complications for patients, and led to the development of a new community-based intravenous team, which also provides outpatient care in people's homes.

Mrs Hamilton, who has a daughter studying drama at Southampton University, trained at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, near Aylesbury in 1962, and qualified three years later.

OTHER LOCAL WINNERS: OBE: Joe Walcott, of West Oxfordshire District Council, for services to the community.

Robert John Wadsworth, incident support unit manager, Carrillion Highway Maintenance for services to road safety, Bicester.

Thomas Bridges, JP, for services to the community in Oxford.

Sister Frances, founder and trustee of Helen House children's hospice and Douglas House respice, for services to healthcare Dr Robin David Buxton, chairman, Northmoor Trust and Oxford Nature Conservation Forum, for services to the Environment, Harwell.

MBE Anita Newcourt, hospitality manager at Heathrow, lives in Tetsworth Helen Reynolds, head of science at Gosford Hill School, for services to science education Dame of the British Empire: Professor Carole Jordan, Professor of Physics, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, for services to Physics and Astronomy.

Commander of the British Empire: Prof Thomas Patrick Burns, professor of social psychiatry, Oxford University Medical School and Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Mental Healthcare NHS Trust Judith Hackitt, director, Chemistry for Europe Implementation, European Chemical Industry Council, for services to Occupational health and safety (Wantage) Christopher Spence, chief executive of Volunteering England, for services to charity (Wallingford) Knights Bachelor Jonathan Asbridge, president of nursing and midwifery council Prof Barrington Windsor Cunliffe CBE. Professor of European Archaelogy at Oxford University Queen's Police Medal: Acting Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police, Sara Thornton