IN-DEPTH: NETWORKING


WOMEN’S NETWORK


Members of the Trust’s women’s network


The Trust’s women’s network launched earlier this year with funding from the NHS London Leadership Academy. Gemma Glanville, HR business partner for medicine and integrated care, piloted the first event and the network has quickly developed into a self-organising group. The network has a distribution list of 75 women from across the Trust and is growing organically. Based on feedback, events are being developed with the aim of adding value to the working lives of women at the Trust. “The women’s network is a safe space for women to feel confident to discuss their personal stories of working for the NHS,” says Christine Mark, administrative assistant in medicine and integrated care.


This summer’s panel event, ’Challenges and inspirations’, chaired by Dr Dominique


LGBT NETWORK


As with most of the other networks, it started organically – and it started small. “We had a few members of staff express an interest in creating a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) network at the Trust so, last summer, we put a callout in staff newsletter InBrief to see how many others might want to join,” says Nathaniel Johnston, head of leadership, talent and engagement.


The LGBT network


representing the Trust at the 2018 Pride parade.


“At our first meeting, we came up with an immediate goal to mark Pride for the first time with a formal Trust presence at London’s 2018 Pride parade and by flying rainbow flags at our main hospital sites.” And we did exactly that – 18 members of staff marched in this year’s


FOR MORE INFORMATION The next meeting will be held this autumn – email lgbt.imperial@nhs.net to get involved. Autumn 2018 Pulse/ 7


Pride parade and rainbow flags were raised at all hospital sites for the week of Pride.


“I was ecstatic when the rainbow flag went up,” says consultant anaesthetist Dr Andrew Hartle. “Twenty years ago, I was sacked from the military for being gay. Things are much better now than then, but homophobia in and out of the workplace is not ancient history. This is the first place I’ve worked to raise the rainbow flag, and I’m so glad I got to see it. It sends a powerful message about the Trust valuing everyone.”


The network hopes eventually to play a greater role in shaping the way the whole Trust supports the LGBT community through guidance and policies. For now, they are focused on getting more people involved from different staff groups and backgrounds to ensure the group is truly representative of our Trust’s diverse community.


Allwood, associate medical director for quality improvement, addressed the particular demands on women working in the NHS and looked at some of the role models who inspire women.


“Supporting equality is really important, both for women staff but also for the whole organisation and for what we look to achieve for our patients,” says Sheena Visram, quality improvement lead. “It’s a pleasure and privilege to be part of this women’s network.”


“I think the network is an important development,” says Harleen Sandhu, service development manager, medicine and integrated care. “This group of like-minded women of different ages, cultures and backgrounds sharing their stories is really inspiring.”


FOR MORE INFORMATION


Contact Gemma Glanville (g.glanville@nhs.net), HR business partner for medicine and integrated care.


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