“During Black History Month, I try and honour those who have opened doors for me.”

Gaynor Walker is a senior programme manager for Equality and Health Inequalities Unit at NHS England and NHS Improvement. In this blog, Gaynor tells us why Black History Month is about celebrating inspirational black leaders of the past but also championing BME NHS leaders of the future.
My journey through the NHS has been littered with
unconventional opportunities and avenues. I have faced discrimination and even
racism over the years, but I have also had quite a few doors opened to me. I
have also been known to open doors for myself, although I’ve always had someone
pointing at the door or indicating where the key of progression was hidden. It
just so happens this guidance was almost always provided by another black
person who realised my potential, or by a light bulb moment after being given
tasks that no one else wanted to do. As an administrator – a black, female
administrator – I was very used to this in the early days of my career and I
accepted it. I was always determined to show that not only could I make
lemonade with the lemons that life gave me, but I could also whip up some lemon
curd too! I carried with me, as do many from a minority background the infamous
saying, ’You have to work twice as hard to get half as far as the rest’.
I still carry the traits mentioned above to this day. The
difference now is that I’ve had the opportunities to experience working at more
senior levels, being involved in projects that I would not have dared dream of
as a child. And so for me, during Black History Month, I always try and honour
those who have opened doors for me, by opening doors for others like me, being
supportive to those who have helped me in the past and encouraging and pushing
talent from minority groups to the forefront. For me Black History Month means
challenging ways of thinking, systems and processes that create inequalities,
both in the workplace and in wider society. I do this all year round.
This has caused problems for me and has unearthed new
realisations that I had to, and continue to, face and digest. At one point,
while involved in the BME Network within NHS England, it was pointed out that
the organisation ‘needs a Martin Luther King figure, not a Malcolm X figure’. I
think this analysis is wrong – I think we need a mixture of the two. Let me
explain.
The NHS needs to take bold steps towards making change in inequity and inequalities, for both its workforce and the patients it serves. The NHS Long Term Plan (and its Interim People Plan) is an excellent start, with real recognition of health inequalities within minority communities and the lack of diversity at the higher end of the pay scale. We as the NHS, need to start implementing the change that’s required by applying levers that will enable behavioural, cultural and environmental change (the Martin Luther King approach). In addition to this, we need a total overhaul of recruitment, retention and promotion processes and the way training opportunities are provided and allocated. If done successfully, we have an opportunity to create impactful changes that will stay in place and will strengthen any behavioural and cultural change achieved (the Malcolm X approach).
But staff from minority backgrounds also need a safe space with a line of communication to those at the very top. Our senior NHS leaders will only be effective if they listen, relate, consider and provide opportunities for staff to be honest, be themselves and build trust within the organisation they’re part of. I see this as the only way for organisations to build an inclusive platform where each member of staff is treated equally and fairly and feels it, while creating an environment where everyone can flourish. Minority staff and black staff need to see that they’re valued and included and until we see more people of colour in senior positions, we will find it hard to build trust. Staff from minority backgrounds who are in senior NHS positions need to feel safe enough to bring their entire selves to work. They will not open doors or provide opportunities for those on lower pay bands if they don’t feel listened to, treated fairly and empowered themselves. And unless the NHS decides to get serious and take large steps in line with the Long Term Plan, set goals around BME staff and their treatment, valuable experience will continue to be missed and ignored.
Thank you for sharing your story and the powerful message
Truly inspirational and powerful; some times you do have to find and open door for yourself and others…thanks for sharing.
So many wise messages in this Gaynor. Thank you.
Such a strong message. So we’ll spelt out. Will managers and leaders take heed? I sincerely hope so. BHM may set the agenda of inclusivity., tolerance and progress for BME staff but the implementation must go on all year round. A pivotal blog. Make it count
I guess the lesson for white people in the NHS is that we can’t just be passive and assume the world will get better on its own. We must identify why non-white people have to work twice as hard to get half as far as the rest, and solve those problems, to make it a level playing field. This is mainly because we should always try an eliminate unfair discrimination, but also because we could be missing the opportunity to employ some really good leaders.
Well said and keep it going Gaynor. I’m a BIG fan you know that 🙂