Bucks NHS Trust head of midwifery receives race equality award

Thursday, 8 December 2022 12:23

By Sam Dean

The Director of Midwifery at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust is part of a team that has won the NHS Race Equality Award at this year's Health Service Journal (HSJ) Awards.

Heidi Beddall is a member of the Turning the Tide oversight group which received the accolade for its reporting on the experiences of maternity staff and women of Black, Asian and ethnic minority heritage during the Covid-19 pandemic.

It makes several recommendations for improvement, including the goal of equity in career development, opportunity and wellbeing for non-white staff and to address current barriers.

The Turning the Tide team developed a national mentoring scheme in collaboration with the Royal College of Midwives resulting in almost 30% of mentees being promoted so far.

The representation of Black, Asian and minority ethnic midwives in senior midwifery leadership positions has also increased across the country.

Heidi Beddall said: "The impact of winning a HSJ Award will really drive us to build on Turning the Tide for maternity staff and women in our care. It will encourage us to keep exploring ways of improving outcomes and continue to strive for equity in maternity healthcare and work."

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust Chief Nurse, Karen Bonner, who HSJ recognise as one of the 50 most influential Black, Asian and minority ethnic people in health, recently said: “We have to think about whether you can be your authentic self at work, or flex to fit in with what people expect.

“It’s much more wearing emotionally, physically and mentally for me than for a white woman from a similar background.”

[PICTURE: Helen Beddall]