The Black And Minority Ethnic (BME) Staff Network was established in 2018. This followed a consultation with key stakeholders about their lived experience. The Network is working closely with the Workforce Equality Group to continuously improve the workplace experience of BME staff.
If you would like to join the Network, please contact: ggc.bmestaffnetwork@nhs.scot. If you wish to join the Network’s mailing list, please be assured that your personal details will not be disclosed. You can be part of the Network anonymously. Emails sent will always be blind copied.
You can join our Facebook NHSGGC – BAME Staff Network by contacting us, or by clicking the button below. There are some details required to verify that requests are from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) employees. Please remember that this Network is private, and confidentiality is expected from each member – this is a safe, trust-based space.
BME Staff Network Co-Chairs
Dr Sajid Farid is a Consultant Physician (Stroke Services) and was appointed as Co-Chair of the NHSGGC BME Network in August 2023. He serves as the Chair of the British Medical Association (BMA) Scottish Race Equality Forum (SREF), making him the first person of Pakistani origin to lead any branch of the BMA. His contributions to healthcare professionals from ethnic minorities are significant, as he provides support, advocacy, mentoring, and coaching. Dr Farid is a founding member of the Association of Pakistani Physicians-Surgeons and Allied Professionals Scotland and a pioneer member of BMA SREF. He is also an International Medical Graduate champion and actively supports initiatives such as Whistleblowing and the Speak Up campaign.
Mara Sese is an Operating Department Practitioner in Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Theatres Department and has worked with NHGGGC since 2013. Mara is an active member of Migrants Voice and attends the annual Scottish Women’s Convention to discuss women’s health. Mara has a strong vision to grow the Network as well as mentoring and supporting new members to actively participate. One of Mara’s key ambitions is for the Network to help support new international recruits, as they settle into their new workplaces and a new country.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact us at ggc.staffexperience@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
If you would like to join the BME Network, please email ggc.bmestaffnetwork@nhs.scot for more information. The network is for both BME members of staff and for allies.
Aims
- Provide a safe, supportive and confidential forum for sharing experiences.
- Network and discuss identified issues that affect members of staff from BME groups.
- Act as a platform for consultation and influence on issues impacting on the health, wellbeing and work of BME staff.
- Facilitate opportunities for feedback on staff governance issues in relation to the experience of BME staff.
Terms of Reference
Meeting Dates 2024
Please contact ggc.bmestaffnetwork@nhs.scot for details on how to join.
- Wednesday 21 February from 12.00pm to 2.00pm
- Wednesday 22 May from 12.00pm to 2.00pm
- Wednesday 21 August from 12.00pm to 2.00pm
- Wednesday 27 November from 12.00pm to 2.00pm
Developing Leadership Skills Programme 2023/24
Applications for the Year 2 Leadership Skills Programme for employees from black and minority ethnic communities in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are now closed. If you would like to register your interest for future programmes, please email ggc.staffexperience@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
NHSGGC BME Leadership Stories
NHSGGC continues on our journey to maximise inclusion and diversity within our workforce.
We complimented our existing portfolio of management and leadership development provision with our ‘Developing Leadership Skills’ programme specifically for Black and Minority Ethnic employees in NHSGGC.
The first programme was delivered online via MS Teams from October 2022 to March 2023. Feedback from our staff participating is detailed below. Details of our next programme feature in the ‘Developing Leadership Skills Programme 2023/24’ section above.
David Ejim
“Since completing the training, I have taken up a promotion at the NHSGGC Care Home Collaborative as a Quality Improvement Advisor, which I credit in no small part to the Programme. In addition to building my confidence to go for this post, the training helped me develop skills which I use daily in my current role. I know the BME Leadership Development Programme has enriched my practice and therefore strongly recommend it.”
Kamaljit Khalsa
“I am Dr Kamaljit Khalsa, a Consultant Medical Microbiology based at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. I have just completed the BME Leadership Development Programme run by NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde. The programme highlighted the value of diversity and equality within team settings. By networking and engaging with people from across the whole organisation it was useful to hear about some of the struggles and challenges faced including unconscious bias. Going forward we built on some common goals, ideas and aspirations. The small accountability groups enabled us to engage and gain support from one another. I would highly recommend this programme and feel it has improved my confidence, leadership skills and realised the importance of looking oneself.”
Dr Esther Azi
“I am Esther Azi, a Specialty Doctor with the West of Scotland Sexual Assault Response Co-ordination Services (SARCS). I was privileged to be part of the pioneer cohort that underwent the BME Leadership Development Programme.
I must say it was a rich and well packaged programme. From the brilliant facilitator Gillian Neish, the amazing colleagues from NHSGGC, I met and interacted with over six months from all disciplines and cadres, to the guest speakers with lived experiences and huge wealth of knowledge.
The programmed spanned six months, it was well spaced out and the virtual component allowed for flexibility. The break out sessions made it quite engaging and stimulating and the blend of reflective writing, oral presentations and life hacks from guest speakers made it possible for me to leave the programme with a lot of skills and confidence in approaching CV writing, interviews, leading teams and being assertive in the face of bullying or discrimination.
I particularly enjoyed the mindfulness and wellbeing moments we observed during each session, reminding us to take care of ourselves so we could give our best to our patients, the team, and the organisation at large. Joining the BME Network during the programme also meant I had on-going support after the course, as we were constantly reminded ‘support networks are their weight in gold’.
Since the programme, I have taken the initiative to lead on a project, which has made me more confident in putting forward ideas, working across different teams and be solution driven.
In all, I would highly recommend this programme for future cohorts. This would entail full participation to get the full range of tangible and intangible benefits.
Black History Month 2023
In October 2023, the BME Network celebrated Black History Month with a series of events and providing resources that support staff and are there to improve the staff experience. We look forward to working on plans for Black History Month 2024.
Black History Month – Staff Profiles
Harrison S. Salifu
“I work at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, as a General Medicine Band 5 Staff Nurse.
“My favourite thing about my job is meeting people from different parts of the world, from different cultures, at their lowest moment. This humbled me to love everyone no matter the circumstance, and provide the best of care to them. I get true life advice, especially from the older patients, on how to have a better life in Scotland.
“Good and better access to healthcare is the number one solution to current mental health issues in our society. Anything that prevents people from having access leads to serious mental health issues which also affect productivity.”
Tracyanne Grandison
“I am a respiratory clinical research nurse within the Glasgow Clinical Research Facility (GCRF). I am mainly based at Gartnavel General Hospital, but my job role can take me to any NHSGGC site as required.
“The best thing about my role is when a drug or procedure is licensed or approved for a therapeutic area, and patients comment on how much it has helped them. I am extremely proud to have been a part of the team that worked hard to gather the required data necessary for this to be possible.
“Access to healthcare matters because it empowers everyone to advocate for themselves, regardless of socio-economic status. It will be easier to engage with the more vulnerable individuals in the community, and they are more likely to access the necessary healthcare required in a timely manner.
“This can create a strong sense of community and responsibility of our health, better health outcomes, better treatment compliance and reduced healthcare costs associated with non-compliance.”
South Asian Heritage Month 2023
In August 2023, the BME Network held an event to celebrate South Asian Heritage Month. Details of this event, with photographs, can be viewed by clicking this link.
National NHS Minority Ethnic Network
NHSGGC Board and BME Staff Network are committed to supporting to the National NHS Minority Ethnic Network, established in 2021. The key work streams are:
Employment
Recruitment – Selection – Development – Career Progression
Workplace Culture
Race Conversations – Lived Experiences – Recognising Barriers – Clear Messages – Race Equality
Mental Health
Practical Advice – Signposting – Clinical Support – Targeted Communications – Governance
Annual Newsletter
In July 2023, we launched our first BME Network Newsletter which can be viewed by clicking this link. Future Newsletters will be included on this page.