McManus, who has been with the NHS for 37 years and chief executive of the trust since 2017, received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science in a ceremony on Wednesday 11 December.

‘I am hugely humbled and endlessly thankful for receiving this degree from the University of Reading,' he said. ‘The honour is not for myself but for our amazing staff and volunteers at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, and our partners at the University.'

Since joining the trust, McManus has been instrumental in establishing formal links with the University of Reading to help improve patient care and clinical excellence through the Health Innovation Partnership (formally the Joint Academic Board).

Achievements of the partnership include: the launch of a joint physician associate programme; establishing 10 University Departments of Excellence within the hospital; sharing teaching and learning resources – including the recently opened Clinical Simulation and Training Suite; and beginning a pipeline of research that will directly benefit patients.

McManus added: ‘Our two organisations have already been able to achieve so much together through the Health Innovation Partnership, and I know moving forwards there is so much more we can to do to support our staff, our patients and our community.'