2023 BAME Nurse of the Year Celebration

Longstanding JN customer Marsha Jones RGN, RM is the 2023 National BAME Health and Care Awards Nurse of the Year! This was announced at the awards ceremony held at the Royal College of Physicians in November. As such we were happy to celebrate this outstanding achievement with Marsha.
The testimonials and commendations at the event gave us a full picture of a truly remarkable, brilliant, and hard-working woman. These were given by her former and current colleagues, classmates, friends, and family. The Deputy Jamaican High Commissioner to the UK, Patrice Laird-Grant, also gave an address expressing how proud the Jamaican community is of her achievement. Some of the recurring words used to describe Marsha include authentic, integrity, diligent, helpful and many described her as an inspiring and empowering leader.

Marsha has served for over 20 years in the NHS working in areas of acute nursing care, maternity, national community health settings and commissioning. She is a practicing midwife and a founding member of the Caribbean Nurses and Midwives Association. She is the current chairperson for the Society of African and Caribbean Nurses and Midwives. Marsha also serves as a member of the Chief Nursing Officer – Black & Minority Ethnic Strategic Advisory Group (CNOBME SAG) and is a Mary Seacole Scholar (Leadership) and a Darzi fellow.

The event was oversubscribed and consisted mainly of healthcare professionals. In her response, Marsha expressed that “it is truly humbling to be celebrated in this way”. She shared some encouraging words of wisdom to everyone and implored all to ‘have a tribe’ which she explains is a community of support. She went further stating that people should not get overly bothered by negative experiences, as there is always something to learn in those situations.

She has served recently as the NHS Director of Quality Governance and Assurance at the Southwest London Integrated Care Board. As at December 1st 2023 Marsha assumed the role of Director of Nursing and Safeguarding in North East London Integrated Care Board.
We had a lovely time celebrating an outstanding achievement by this remarkable woman.