RCN London announce Rising Star winners for 2024

Part of RCN London’s celebrations to mark Black History Month 2024, the Rising Star awards recognise nursing staff from the capital’s Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities who’ve made an outstanding contribution to the health and care of Londoners.  

The winners work across a range of different areas of nursing including in schools, end-of-life care and mental health services, and include local London nursing staff as well as internationally educated nurses (IENs) who have come to work in the capital’s health and care services.   
introduce you to some of this year’s winners.

We'd like to introduce you to some of this year's winners.

• Mark Mencias, a Neurogenetics Clinical Nurse Specialist at St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, set up a pioneering nurse-led clinic in neurogenetics in south London. The clinic has enabled patients to get access to groundbreaking genomic testing and any further care they need.  

• Nirmala Dadry, a Gynaecology Oncology Specialist Nurse at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, worked tirelessly to raise awareness of endometrial cancer among staff, patients and in her local community and supported the development of a gynaecology cancer pathway, leading to better access for patients.  

• Ibiadukuka Paul-Worika, a Paediatric Nurse Trainer and Educator in the Tower Hamlets Community Children Nursing Team, secured funding to deliver essential first aid training for at-risk children and young people in Tower Hamlets.  

• Saffi Nantwi, a student school nurse at Parsons Green Health Centre, developed bespoke training for teachers on the management of students with asthma, including showing teachers how to manage an asthma attack in school.   

• Sumitha Janaky, a Practice Nurse Educator at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, rolled out a successful induction programme for IENs in her trust. Sumitha applied an improvement approach, grounded in mental health support and wellbeing, to embrace the unique challenges IENs face such as cultural adjustments, language barriers, and isolation.   

Other winners were recognised for showing unwavering commitment and excellence in patient care.  

Eugenia Badu, a staff nurse at Northwick Park Hospital in North West London was nominated for consistently going above and beyond for her patients and “delivering care with empathy and precision”. While Prachi Xettigar, working in end-of-life care at Atfield House Care Home in Isleworth, was recognised for giving “the utmost comfort and dignity to her patient during their end-of-life journey.” 

On winning her award, Ibiadukuka Paul-Worika, said: 

“It’s a privilege to work in the Tower Hamlets Community Children Nursing Team and I feel incredibly honoured to have been nominated by my colleagues. I am passionate about the health and wellbeing of children and this award will only make me more determined and more focused to support children, young people and their families.” 

Another winner, Lauraun Green, a Gynaecology Oncology Specialist Nurse, nominated for being an outstanding leader, said: 

“As I strive to become a nurse leader, this award has given me the confidence to continue to remain focused on empowering my colleagues, advocating for our patients and to foster a culture of excellence and innovation.”

Congratulating the winners, RCN Regional Director for London, Lisa Elliott, said: 

“A huge congratulations to all the Rising Star winners. It’s fantastic to see the depth of talent that exists in London’s nursing community, who work across different nursing settings right across the capital. Their innovation, compassionate leadership and commitment to delivering first-class patient care is a clear example of why nursing is the most trusted profession by the public.