In honour of the recent NHS Overseas Workers Day, I would like to take a moment to celebrate all overseas healthcare workers. The UK healthcare system, and by extension the NHS, has always utilised overseas-talent alongside locally-trained talent.
Overseas NHS workers are an integral part of the healthcare system’s workforce supply, with over 264,000 overseas NHS workers (17% of the total NHS workforce) who fill critical gaps within the healthcare workforce. With their diverse backgrounds, they contribute valuable knowledge and skill;s acquired from their home countries and they foster cross-cultural understanding and promote diversity and inclusion.
Meet my parents, healthcare professionals from the Philippines whose journey to the UK is a display of the brave spirit of those who choose to leave home to serve another community. Their story is one of courage and resilience, alongside hope and sacrifice. Leaving behind their family and the comfort of home, they embarked on a journey to the UK, driven by a passion to brighten their lives and the life of others. However, this did not come without its challenges; homesickness, cultural and language barriers, career progression barriers and distance from loved ones or a support system. My creation of this blog is a testament to their resilience and unwavering commitment to their calling; having left everything they knew to work and build a new life for themselves and their family.
Their story is just one amongst a sea of countless others. As we celebrate their contributions, let us remember that the healthcare system is made up of stories, woven together by the shared values of compassion, dedication, and perseverance.
Meditalent wants all overseas healthcare staff to know that we appreciate you each and every day. So thank you for choosing the UK and thank you for all that you do for the community.
Author: Ranzel Nunez
Photo credit: https://www.elft.nhs.uk/news/celebrating-overseas-nhs-workers-day-thank-you-choosing-elft