A NURSE at the Countess of Chester Hospital who has helped thousands of sick babies back to health will be made an MBE.

Special Care Baby Unit senior nurse Lynda Coulter, 58, of Gawer Park, Chester, was named among Olympic heroes and stars of stage and screen for her services to healthcare in the Queen’s New Year Honours list.

An elated Lynda, who moved to the Countess 18 years ago, said: “I’m a great royalist so I’ll be delighted to meet Her Majesty. It’s a great honour.”

The neo natal unit has a special place in the hearts of thousands of mothers whose sickly babies have been nursed back to health by Linda and her team.

Every year, Linda and her colleagues have overseen the treatment of more than 300 babies who need the Special Care Baby Unit’s support.

Val Parkes, ward clerk on the Unit, said Lynda was an unsung hero.

She said “It’s fabulous news and it’s well deserved. She’s very dedicated and it’s only to be expected. It’s nice to see somebody who works so hard for premature babies in this area being recognised.”

Lynda founded and manages the Human Milk Bank, based at the hospital, which encourages mothers to donate their breast milk to feed sick and premature babies.

Research shows their chances of survival have been substantially improved.

Lynda said: “The donor mothers are key here – without them donating milk the milk bank wouldn’t be here. We’ve had a huge amount of milk.”