An initiative which aims to support BAME workers in the NHS has scooped a top award.
It was among 10 national NHS initiatives that were honoured at the NHS Parliamentary Awards, held to recognise and celebrate some of the biggest achievements in health and social care today.
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust’s Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Network won the Wellbeing at Work category.
The winners were among seven other winners announced during a ceremony opened by the Prime Minister today.
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid, gave the closing address at the ceremony.
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust’s BAME Network leads are a diverse team of volunteers dedicated to supporting BAME colleagues.
The team supports and advocates for BAME colleagues and raise these themes to influence policy and procedure.
This year, COVID-19 has impacted BAME communities significantly and disproportionately, and the team has risen to the challenge to protect BAME colleagues’ physical and psychological wellbeing as best as possible through a stressful and worrying time.
Hannah Chandisingh, UHMBT’s transformation lead for race equality and BAME Staff Network member, said: “I am so proud to be a part of our BAME Staff Network today, as winners of the NHS Parliamentary Award for Wellbeing at Work.
“We know that COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on healthcare workers from an ethnic minority background.
“Throughout the pandemic, the network leads really have gone above and beyond to make sure that colleagues are safe and well – whether being a listening ear and providing support, organising alternative PPE, advocating for those too worried to go to their managers about their safety, championing vaccination, or even organising supplies of vitamin D.”
David Wilkinson, director of people and organisational development at UHMBT, said “The dedication and commitment of our inclusion and diversity team, working closely with our colleague support networks, has been integral to keeping our colleagues safe and supported through the pandemic.
“I am delighted that their collective hard work and passion has been recognised in such a testing year, and beyond thankful that they have been here through it all to make such a difference to colleagues in need.”
Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron, who nominated the network, alongside fellow Barrow and Furness MP Simon Fell and two other MPs, said: “I’m absolutely delighted that the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Staff Network have won this NHS Parliamentary Award.
“This award is in recognition of the amazing work they do in championing the diversity of the workforce, fighting for equality and providing enormous support to staff during the immense pressures of the last 16 months.”
