BOLTON'S top doctor has been honoured for her work at Buckingham Palace.

Dr Jackie Bene, the Chief Executive of Bolton NHS Foundation Trust — and a practising consultant physician — was presented with her OBE medal by Prince Charles at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace after being named in the Queen's New Year's Honours list.

Dr Bene, who lives in Tottington, said: "I feel absolutely thrilled and honoured to have been recognised and to have been a participant in this wonderful day at Buckingham Palace."

The award is the latest recognition for the consultant of geriatric and acute medicine.

Dr Bene was appointed as Chief Executive of the Trust in 2014.

She has worked as a Consultant in Elderly Medicine at the Trust since 1998 where she was Clinical Lead for Older People’s Services at the hospital, and appointed Medical Director in 2008.

Dr Bene believes in ' putting patients at the heart of everything' and providing high quality services.

The trust says she he has made a considerable contribution to public services in Bolton including, in the earlier part of her career, the important development of intermediate care and the establishment of a falls service.

Her achievements as Chief Executive include her "inspirational leadership during a time of great financial difficulty for the Trust and her ongoing dedication to the highest levels of patient care" which she has achieved a whilst still remaining a practising clinician at the Royal Bolton Hospital – which is said to be a rare quality in a Chief Executive.

In 2014 she was named one of the Health Service Journal's Top 50 Inspirational Women in the NHS and the following year she was shortlisted for the Health Service Journal's Chief Executive of the Year Award.

In 2016 and 2017 she was listed among the same publication's Top 50 Chief Executives.

Last summer she was graduated as a Doctor again after being recognised by the University of Bolton by being made a Doctor of Health Care for her outstanding contribution to her field.

Others awarded their medals on the day included Hull's city culture manager Jonathan Pywell with his OBE medal, awarded by the Prince of Wales and MP Joanne Swinson.