NHS staff and students have been working tirelessly throughout the pandemic in a multitude of ways, including caring for patients, volunteering their time or being involved in research and education. People of Asian origin make up 29.7% of the NHS medical workforce1. In honour of South Asian Heritage Month, we asked our readers to nominate health care workers of South Asian origin who have demonstrated their tenacity, innovation and excellence in recent months.
NHS Hero: Dr Sonali Dutta-Knight
95% of the NHS doctors who died from Coronavirus were from BAME groups. From March, this concerned me. I was just a normal jobbing GP, Wife, Mother… would anyone listen? I started discussions through social media. I researched and published articles (notably BMJ Leader). I created the group ‘Healthcare Professionals Against Racism’ which has over 1000 members. I was invited to advise a group of MPs in an all-party conference to discuss strategies to protect BAME NHS staff. I’m even now running for the RCGP Council primarily because I want to raise the voices of all Doctors of Colour.
NHS Hero: Dr Sarishka Singh
The COVID-19 pandemic washed over our medium sized DGH like a tidal wave, filling staff with fear and then receded, leaving us battling exhaustion and depression. As a FY1, I did not expect my year to be uprooted like it was. I witnessed my environment suddenly changing and the bustling ward that I had known morphed into a unrecognisable area of sick and dying COVID patients. The months that followed were hellish, but still we rallied against the seemingly never-ending tide of admissions with energy and vigour despite staff shortages, succumbing to the virus ourselves and physical and mental exhaustion.
NHS Hero: Dr Mukesh Chugh
This picture was taken after 18 hours of dealing with Covid-19 patients on one of the most exhausting nights of my career. Prostration was not due to the number of hours or number of patients; but was due to donning and doffing, getting dehydrated while breathing through the mask and fear of unknown.
NHS Hero: Anita Ghei
Due to medical risk assessments, my clinical role as a dentist was impacted. Consequently, I was enrolled into Restorative and Oral Surgery telephone triaging. This service provides Advice, Analgesia and Antibiotics, ensuring patients meeting the urgent criteria are seen. Triaging allows adaption and development of communication skills in order to assess, differentially diagnose and manage dental problems without seeing the patient. This role has included many challenges: language barriers, decisions associated with shielded patients and restricted services of local anaesthetic clinics only. However, this experience has highlighted the importance of oral health and the need for dental service provision.
NHS Hero: Dr Aiyappa Biddanda
The initial two weeks when Italy went into lockdown the hospital and government were very laid back. This led to the hospitals having no clear plan of action and the initial spread of disease. I was distraught, feeling scared and angry as a night medical registrar where I had to make quick decisions. The lockdown was not as hectic as I expected it to be, but I had to manage staff fears/ safety on my ward with only surgical masks and plastic aprons which left me feeling the same anger towards the hospital management and lack of clear leadership. Thank you.
References:
1 NHS workforce - Ethnicity Facts and Figures, <https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/workforce-and-business/workforce-diversity/nhs-workforce/latest#by-ethnicity> (2020).