Celebrating Black History Month at NUH – Part 4 | Latest news

This years’ Black History Month (BHM) is all about ‘Saluting our Sister’ by highlighting the crucial role Black women have played in shaping history, inspiring change and building communities. Throughout October, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) have been sharing stories from some of our staff members.

At NUH, we want our hospitals to be inclusive places to work, where opportunities to develop and progress are open to all.

Lovelyn Umeloh - Matron for Community Engagement, Innovation and Inclusion

Lovelyn came to the UK in 2004 and first joined NUH 17 years ago, back in 2006.

Since joining, Lovelyn has worked in a variety of roles such as a radiology scrub and recovery nurse, an outpatient nurse, a preoperative assessment nurse, a spinal nurse practitioner, a dementia nurse fellow, and a mealtime lead nurse.

What does Black History Month mean to you?

Black History Month for me had used to be about remembering all the bad things colonisation did to mankind, especially the underdeveloped world such as slavery. My perception of it has changed to an opportunity to learn the impact Black people’s culture, achievements and breakthrough have had on our communities, organisations and globally.

Who inspires you in your personal life and why?

My mother is my number one inspiration: She was born in the era when women were not considered to be educated and because of this, she vowed that all her children must be educated. She was able to achieve this by working very hard as a trader, supporting my late father with his meagre salary as a civil servant.  True to her wish, six out of the nine children were university graduates. My late uncle’s wife, who was a nurse but now retired, single-handedly raised and educated all her children when her husband died at a tender age.

Who inspires you at NUH?

Aquiline Chivinge, who is my line manager, is an inspiration. Always on the move thinking of what to do next and very supportive as well.

Gina Higginbottom is another person that I admire so much. This is because of her perseverance in every situation and the fact she is happy to support, encourage and empower even without knowing you. When I was studying years ago, she happened to deliver a module to us. I instantly admired her and after the lecture I sent her an email for support on career progression. I could not believe how quickly she got back to me to meet at the restaurant and paid for my drink and snack. Her story on how she got where she is despite all odds, such as racism, by relocating to Canada to pursue her dream and later came back to Nottingham as a professor. The advice she gave me still resonates with me to this day.

What was it like joining NUH / NHS as a Black woman? And what positive changes have you seen?

I first joined NUH back in 2006. If I must be honest, it was not palatable for many years trying to belong without success. Working more to get approved and in one grade for many years, training new staff who later managed you, not because you don’t know your job but, I felt, because of skin colour. Things are improving and with all the new executives we have now, I strongly believe the best is coming.

What would you say to a young Black person coming into NUH? What advice would you give them?

I will encourage them to work hard and get support from those who have been before them and to progress to a level that befit them in time. To speak up when necessary and work as a team.

How do you think your role influences change and improvements for the Black community?

My role as a community matron means going to the underprivileged communities to engage, empower and signpost them to access work, volunteer and gain treatment from the NHS. Seeing me as their own person in such a position and encouraging them increases their confidence to look for work at NUH.

What is something you’ve done during your time at NUH which you’re really proud of?

Developing the Dementia Tier 2 learning resource, that helps to educate and enlighten staff on how to care and support people with dementia. It is very interactive, enabling staff to think before they act. I suggested and initiated using it to teach international nurses as fundamentals of care, High-Cost Areas, some of our internal departmental nurses. Some educators have also used it to deliver their trainings.

Engaging and supporting staff who have considered leaving the Trust rather to change to another unit instead of leaving. 

Why did you want to get into a career in the NHS?

NHS is the back bone of our community and supporting it in allyship is the only way forward. Its benefits cannot be measured.

What do you love about your role?

Putting smiles on people’s faces on daily basis. Supporting staff, patients and job seekers.