The awards recognise nurses and health care support workers from London’s Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic nursing community who have made an outstanding contribution to the capital’s health and care system.The year’s winners were recognised for being nursing pioneers and innovators, for being inspirational leaders and for promoting excellence in patient care.
Our winners include Noreen Chindawi, a cancer nurse specialist at Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, who is one of only two cancer specialists of her kind in England and Shalini Ramguttee, a nursing associate at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust, who revolutionised a training programme for staff that brought about improvements in patient care.
The winners come from a range of backgrounds with different life experiences including Rashidat Okunlola-Samuel, who worked in banking before re-training as a nurse. On winning her award, Rashidat, who works at Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“I became a nurse because I am passionate about making a real difference to people’s lives. To be acknowledged by my colleagues is heartwarming and I am very lucky to work with an exceptionally generous and supportive team.”
This year, many of our Rising Stars do amazing work to support internationally educated nurses who have come to work in London, some of them using their own lived experience to shape the amazing support they provide to their colleagues.
Rising Star Leo Andrew Almerol, a vascular access clinical nurse specialist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, and originally from the Philippines, said:
“It is an honour to be recognised as one of RCN London’s Rising Stars. As a nurse from the Philippines, I hope my award shows other nurses from abroad that our contribution does matter and that we are valued members of London’s nursing community.”
Congratulating the winners, RCN Regional Director for London Lisa Elliott said:
“Despite working in an exceptionally pressurised health system with widespread short staffing and skyrocketing waiting lists, our Rising Stars winners pushed boundaries, showed leadership, and drove real improvements in services for their patients.
“They showed personal commitment, determination and passion and they are a fantastic example of how the nursing profession goes above and beyond to care for Londoners.”
You can find out more about the Rising Stars here or watch our video celebrating the winners below.
