A doctor from Flintshire has been awarded the OBE in the New Year Honours for her services to child protection.

Carys Mair Graham, 54, works for North Wales Health Authority as its designated doctor, liaising with social services and police in cases involving children.

The procedures mean that everyone involved with children in Wales is now reading from the same one manual Carys Mair Graham

Ms Graham, who is a paediatrician dealing specifically with children and their diseases, has held the role since it was created in 1996.

She also works for the North East Wales Hospital Trust in a separate role looking after children with special needs.

Ms Graham was part of the team which wrote the all-Wales child protection procedures which were introduced in June 2002.

"It was a very rewarding experience," she said.

"The procedures mean that everyone involved with children in Wales is now reading off the same one manual.

"This makes things a lot easier, especially if families move from one part of Wales to another.

"It avoids the situation where you have many different procedures for different areas of Wales," she explained.

Ms Graham, who is married with two children, is also a consultant paediatrician in the community.

"In my experience, child protection has always been taken on board as part of a consultant paediatrician's role," she explained.

"As a result, my post as a designated doctor for child protection seems a natural progression," she added.

Other winners

Michael Charles Simkins from Mold, in Flintshire, has also been handed the OBE.

Mr Charles, who works for Wrexham County Borough Council, is being rewarded for his contribution to public service in Wales.

Meanwhile, Nerys Haf Biddulph, of Prestatyn, Denbighshire, has been awarded the MBE for services to the water industry.

She is a member of OFWAT Customer Service Committee for Wales.

And Bernard John Dennis, export director of Conren International, has also been given an MBE.

Mr Dennis, who lives near Chester, was nominated for services to International Business Development in Wales.