Imperial College Healthcare’s leading midwife has been praised for being a BME pioneer in healthcare
Judges at the Health Service Journal felt Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent is a fantastic role model for black and minority ethnic people.
The HSJ celebrates the huge contribution people from black and minority ethnic communities make to the NHS at all levels. The list of 50 pioneers is not definitive, but aims to spotlight just some of the many leaders, directors, managers, doctors, clinicians, nurses, academics, diversity champions, patient advocates and trade unionists making a difference.
Jacqueline said:“I feel honoured and privileged to be recognised and acknowledged as a BME pioneer by the HSJ. My work is inspired by mentoring those unsung heroes who work tirelessly to provide the very best care for the women, babies and children we look after. Thank you to those who nominated me.”
Jacqueline has an impressive record of leadership in midwifery. She developed and led the first foundation degree for maternity support workers in London in partnership with the then London Strategic Health Authority. She also developed and validated the first masters in midwifery and excellence in practice programme at London South Bank University.
Jacqueline has been steadily making improvements to clinical services - as the former head of midwifery and women’s services at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation Trust she established a specialist clinic for asylum seekers who had suffered sexual abuse as well as support for women who had experienced domestic violence.
Working at the Trust since 2011, Jacqueline has developed strong and important links with other hospitals and universities, mentored and supported junior staff in their career progression and championed initiatives including the International Day of the Nurse and Midwife. She also represents the Trust on the London Senate Council and forum.
Jacqueline has made many significant achievements at the Trust including her involvement in the campaign to improve safer staffing levels and mobilising midwives in the community. More recently she has led on a Trust-wide response to the tri-borough Female Genital Mutilation project and supported the development of midwifery group practices, completing team building study days for all the teams in her division. She continues to engage with staff groups and has led an initiative that involved seeking the views of 450 members of staff from the women's and children's division.
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