21 February 2024

In celebration of LGBT+ History Month, Samridh Sharma speaks about his role and the importance of diversity and visibility.

Samridh Sharma, nursing assistant at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Hello, I’m Samridh Sharma and I’m a nursing assistant in Ward 21 at North Tyneside General Hospital.

I support mental health patients by combining medical and psychological services to help them with their mental illness and regain their independence. It's a challenging yet rewarding journey, and I’m honoured to be a part of it.

Every day, I’m inspired by the patients I serve and the dedicated team I work with. I feel a strong sense of belonging which helps me to bring out the best of me in my role.

The importance of visibility

I have been part of Northumbria Healthcare LGBT+ staff network for over 3 years now. Visibility and support have been key players for my motivation to be part of this group.

I’ve seen patients, carers, and even family members be hesitant to be open about being a member of LGBT+ or even an ally. I think this is mainly due to the fear of being judged or the thought of not being taken seriously.

Having visibility on the ward, with a simple rainbow poster, really helped to bring out the best by making the environment feel safe and welcoming for themselves and their loved ones. In the end it's about pride, compassion, and acceptance, and without these, holistic care is not whole.

Visibility is to ensure that you can be free and proud but also able to bring out human emotions such as empathy, kindness, and comfort to our care, without the feelings of insecurity, judgement, or shame. 

Being part of and celebrating LGBT+ at work

In the context of my work, I have found that diversity, especially being part of LGBT+, plays a pivotal role in patient care. People from different backgrounds bring unique perspectives and life experiences, which helps to enrich the quality of care we provide.

Every year we celebrate LGBT+ month at our trust, and it relates to my role in many ways i.e. celebrating and supporting individuality, being part of society, bringing our own perspectives, not being alienated, and being connected.

I’m very proud to be part of an organisation that values LGBT+ diversity and recognises the importance of a holistic approach to patient care.

 

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