Tuesday 8 October 2024

Black History Month (BHM) is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the invaluable contributions of Black people within our society and in the NHS. It also serves as an opportunity to inspire and empower the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and wider NHS workforce.

Maggie Amegadzie, Senior Paediatric Clinical Research Nurse at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Manchester Clinical Research Facility (CRF) at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital (RMCH), part of MFT has worked at the Trust for more than 28 years. In celebration of BHM 2024, Maggie shares why she is proud of her heritage and career, caring for children and young people at MFT.

Maggie Amegadzie, Senior Paediatric Clinical Research Nurse at the NIHR Manchester CRF at RMCH

From Ghana to Manchester

I was born in Ghana, part of West Africa, where I initially qualified as a State Registered Nurse in 1987. Even in my own childhood I was keen to be a nurse, and always had an interest in paediatric nursing, however specialised training was not available. In 1995 I did an adaptation course in the UK and qualified as a registered paediatric nurse joining Saint Mary’s Hospital for Women and Children in 1996, before paediatric services later moved to RMCH in 2009.

Maggie Amegadzie early on in her career, working on the Acorn Ward at Saint Mary’s Hospital for Women and Children in 1998

In 2010, an opportunity to progress my career came up in the NIHR Manchester CRF at RMCH. I applied and got the job, which is where I have been working ever since and I love every aspect of my job. Over the last 14 years working in the Manchester CRF at RMCH, I have had a great deal of experience in the set up and delivery of early phase paediatric research in various specialities. Having the opportunity to provide quality care for children and young people and to work with them and our multi-disciplinary teams to deliver life-changing research, is very fulfilling.

Transforming lives through research

Research studies can transform lives, and I was delighted to be involved in the trial of a treatment for children with Wolman disease – a rare metabolic disease which presents in babies and children under two years old.

The NIHR Manchester CRF at RMCH delivered world-first clinical trials for the treatment, Sebalipase Alfa, in May 2011 and this treatment has now gone to be approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for use in the NHS for children with the disease.

Maggie and Manchester CRF at RMCH colleagues with Hashir (bottom right), who was first admitted to NIHR Manchester CRF at RMCH at three months old to receive treatment for Wolman disease through a clinical trial

Children receiving Sebalipase Alfa are now living a normal life and going to school as usual. I was involved in the initial clinical trials, and it is lovely to see how the children are thriving thanks to this treatment. For example, Hashir (pictured bottom right), was one of my patients that I looked after from aged 3 months. He now receives Sebalipase Alfa in the NHS as standard of care treatment.

Within research we need to ensure we have fair opportunities and health outcomes for all groups in society and representation plays an important role. Research should be, and is for everyone, and BHM provides an opportunity to reemphasise the commonality of our humanity and celebrate racial diversity in our society.

Training opportunities

Approximately a quarter of the NHS workforce is of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) background, however representation in leadership positions is not always reflective of this. Steps are being taken to address this through training and leadership opportunities, and I was incredibly pleased to be given the opportunity to take part in an initiative through my role at MFT.

In 2019 the Florence Nightingale Foundation and Health Education England (HEE) created a unique and exciting career development opportunity for NHS nurses and midwives, who are descendants of the Windrush generation, or from BME backgrounds, working in the NHS in England. The programme was designed to recognise and celebrate the ethnic minority nurses and midwives in the NHS and unlock potentials.

Investment in the Windrush Leadership Programme shows me that nurses and midwives from BME backgrounds, remain major contributors to the NHS workforce, who are valued and supported to bring our best selves to work in the NHS.

Maggie with colleagues at the Manchester CRF at RMCH

I joined the Windrush Leadership Programme in 2022 and was inspired from this to go on to study for a degree in Integrated Health and Social Care at Sheffield Hallam University, which I completed this year, receiving a BA First Class Honours. The programme has been transformational for me – I felt empowered, and it offered me an exciting career development. I also now have a better understanding of my own leadership style, which has enhanced my job satisfaction, self-awareness and personal impact. Now, my aspirations are to continue to look for opportunities to progress my career to a Band 7 in the NHS.

Celebrating BHM at MFT

Overall, my work experience as a person of African descent, over these 28 years has been a very positive one and I am proud to work in the NHS. I have had and still have, some very supportive colleagues, which contribute to this. I also use my own experiences to represent Manchester CRF at RMCH on equality, diversity and inclusivity matters.

This year’s Black History Month theme is: “Reclaiming Narratives,” which marks a significant shift towards recognising and correcting the narratives of Black history and culture.

I encourage everyone to join in the celebrations and contribute in whatever way you can, to make this year’s Black History Month a memorable one. Through this blog, I hope to inspire my colleagues and would encourage others to look into training opportunities available to them.