It is a great pleasure to be able to use our new website albeit by coincidence, to inform members of another landmark that has taken place this year. In her Birthday Honours List, Her Majesty The Queen bestowed the honour of Member of The British Empire, (MBE) on Kevin Page.

The detail of the citation for Kevin was as Chairman of The Institute of Maxillofacial Prosthetists and Technologists, for services to healthcare. Kevin was the first person to recognise that this honour also acknowledges the IMPT as a whole; our patients, members and endeavours. The work of our members is very specialised and vital to our patients. However, in the greater world of healthcare provision we are a small profession and as such we have to represent ourselves. Fortunately we have had a tradition of willing colleagues happy and able to represent all of us at the highest levels and work with other professional bodies.  As members will know a number of colleagues within the IMPT have, in the past been recognised by Her Majesty The Queen for their services. Indeed it might be argued that we have an unprecedented number for our size. Therefore the honour for Kevin this year is a special and suitable recognition of his work on behalf of our organisation and our place within healthcare.

Kevin trained at Bristol University Dental School moving to Frenchay Hospital Bristol and Queen Mary’s Roehampton, to specialise in maxillofacial prosthetics and technology. He commenced his current post in the late 1980’s where he developed a specialist service for paediatric neurosurgery. For the past sixteen years he has been an active member of Council dedicating many hours to the administration, educational and strategic functions of The IMPT. For the last 9 years he has acted as Chairman of The IMPT guiding the organisation through the most difficult and challenging times in its fifty four year history. His leadership has enabled the profession to join the Family of Healthcare Scientists and become established as a key member of the modern hospital clinical team. Kevin speaks on behalf of the profession at the highest levels and in so doing is dedicated to providing the best possible service to our patients. The pertinent issues today such as Statutory Registration, Agenda for Change and reorganisation of the National Health Service, (NHS) are ones that The IMPT is actively involved in and I know from personal experience that Kevin has and continues to represent the position of The IMPT at all discussions and meetings we are involved in.

In recent years The IMPT might have easily succumbed to various external pressures resulting in the dilution and undermining of our organisation and the services provided by our members to patients. Under the Chairmanship of Kevin Page we have maintained  and enhanced our professional position and ability to develop in a positive manner. Congratulations Kevin.

Mark Townend FIMPT
Honorary Secretary The IMPT
10 September 200