Two Black, Asian and minority ethnic nurses in Bucks praised nationally
Two nurses in Buckinghamshire appeared in the top 10 of most most influential Black, Asian and minority ethnic people in health.
Last updated 30th Oct 2023
Chief Nurse, Karen Bonner, and Associate Chief Nurse, May Parsons both work for the Buckinghamshire NHS Trust.
They ranked in top 10 of the Health Service Journal’s (HSJ) list of the 50 Black, Asian and minority ethnic figures who will exercise the most power and influence in the English NHS and health policy over the next year.
Both work hard for equality, inclusion and representation.
Karen Bonner is one of only a handful of Black, Asian and minority ethnic NHS chief nurses.
She said: "I view myself as a role model, it's my legacy to inspire the next generation of nurses and midwives."
"It's my duty, it's my responsibility, I take it very seriously and that might be why I've been highlighted nationally because I do that in all its forms whether it is through engaging with people, going into schools, being able to talk and share my experiences and inspire others."
She is being praised for her talks, dedication, and service to the NHS, but also her hard work in fighting for a cause close to her heart.
She has been campaigning and working alongside charities for years to raise awareness of prostate cancer, an illness she lost her father to a few years ago.
She said: "I've worked in voluntary and campaigning capacity for about eight years now since the death of my dad nine years ago now to prostate cancer, which affects one in eight men in the UK but one in four black men."
"It doubles the risk if you are black."
May Parsons strives to achieve similar goals to Ms Bonner, which is why she was recognised nationally.
Alongside her hard work to fight for representation in the NHS, which led judges to describe her as a “frontline member of staff with a high profile”, Ms Parsons is the regional director for the Filipino Nurses Association.
She said: “I am humbled to be recognised by the HSJ in this way. I am passionate about representation, fairness and equality within the NHS. To me this simply means advocating for all our colleagues and patients with the compassion and kindness they deserve.”