East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust staff celebrated International Women’s Day yesterday (Tuesday 8 March) across our hospitals – including at Hertford County, Lister, Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, the New QEII and our renal units.
The theme #BreakTheBias led this year’s message, campaigning for a gender-equal world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination.
This is a message that is reinforced by co-chairs of the Women’s Network at the Trust, Georgina Fenwick-Morris and Laura Mitchell, who said: “The Women’s Network is proud to support International Women’s Day.
“Our aim is to promote and encourage gender equality throughout our workforce, by celebrating and promoting the ongoing achievements and work of women across our Trust. We aspire to create an inclusive and safe workplace for all women.”
The network also organised a special International Women’s Day webinar for staff, with special guests including Dr Joan Myers OBE, Tracie Jolliff and Dr Lynne Wigens OBE, and it was also the main topic of discussion in the Trust’s latest leadership forum.
Trust staff were also invited to nominate female colleagues who inspire, encourage, empower and enable them to fulfil their roles and provide the highest quality standards of care to patients. Here are some of the nominations we received:
I would like to nominate Dr Athina Chasapi (cardiology consultant). She is a role model for us trainee doctors and we both appreciate and admire her calm manner, great problem-solving skills and willingness to teach and support junior colleagues.
Felicia, cardiology specialist registrar, East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust
“I would like to nominate Lesley Lowing from the main theatres education team. I admire her dedication to work and her tireless effort in putting newly-employed staff through. She is always open to questions and very welcoming. I can attest a millions times, as can other new staff, she deserves such recognition.”
Jerry, East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust
On behalf of the senior team in maternity, I would like to nominate two amazing women who help anyone and do everything they can to support the team. These two ladies are Irene Drummond and Liz Hull, the housekeepers for CLU and Gloucester ward at Lister Hospital. They are two amazing women who keep both the upstairs and downstairs of our maternity building functioning and without them, we are lost. We are so very glad to have this opportunity to both celebrate and thank them on this special day.
Carly, ward manager for the midwifery-led unit, East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust
