9
Celebrating Black History Month
Chaplaincy welcomes Rabbi Alan Garber
The Trust recognised Black History Month throughout October 2020. Activities included a special virtual event, organised by our BME Network, which featured renowned cultural historian, Patrick Vernon, the man behind the 100 Great Black Britons campaign.
Just like our community, our chaplains come from a wide variety of backgrounds and faiths. Rabbi Alan Garber joined the chaplaincy at the end of 2020 and spoke to Our Trust about his role.
Staff were also able to take part in an interactive, online workshop with behavioural learning specialists Steps to support conversations about race with colleagues, explore what white privilege and systemic racism are, and help understand what staff can do to be a better ally at work. To help mark Black History Month, NHS England London chose 36 prominent individuals to be the faces of the NHS in the capital. Samantha Tross, Lead Orthopaedic Surgeon at Ealing Hospital, was featured on a commemorative map that was promoted across social media platforms.
What does your work at the Trust involve? My role as a chaplain is to offer support and spiritual care for people within our hospital communities. So much of my role is about being present and available for patients, staff and visitors to the hospital. Why did you choose to work at the Trust? I have special affection for Northwick Park Hospital as I was born here, 46 years ago.
Staff members Helen Abidoye and Abdi Yussaf pictured at a pre-pandemic Black History Month event
What is the best part about your job? Meeting patients and helping them to feel connected to the community.
What have you most enjoyed in your career so far? Giving out chocolate coins to patients and staff on the festival of Chanukah. If you could have chosen a different career what would it have been? I would have loved to have been a chef. I enjoy cooking and I get to practice being a chef at home with my wife and five children. How do you relax? It might sound strange, but it is going for a run. I find it clears my mind, gives me positive energy, and I love being out in nature in all seasons. What are you looking forward to most when we come out the other side of COVID? Hugging my mum and dad again.
Marking 50 years of Northwick Park Hospital On 26 October 2020, Northwick Park Hospital celebrated its 50th anniversary. The Trust took to social media to look back over the past five decades and an exhibition of 50 photographs of members of staff is planned to be displayed within the hospital.
Chief executive, Chris Bown, received the book of thanks from year six teacher Gina Brown
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, sent a personal video message to staff past and present thanking them for their on-going commitment and hard work. The pupils from St Anselms Catholic Primary School in Harrow showed their appreciation for Northwick Park Hospital by presenting a book of thanks containing more than 400 messages.
YEARS The Queen meets guests at the official opening of Northwick Park Hospital in 1970. The line-up includes the future Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher
