QVH nurse attends special NHS commemoration service

Kokila Ramalingam, specialty team lead for plastic and reconstructive surgery, at Queen Victoria Hospital (QVH), attended a very special event on Monday (5 July) – a special ‘commemoration and thanksgiving’ service at St Paul’s Cathedral.

The service, which coincided with the 73rd anniversary of the foundation of the NHS, recognised the dedication and commitment of staff to the national health service, care sector, and beyond, particularly during the pandemic.

It was led by the Very Reverend Dr David Ison, Dean of St Paul’s and the Right Reverend, and Right Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally, Bishop of London.

Kokila was amongst staff from right across the NHS who attended, alongside The Duke of Cambridge, NHS Chief Executive Sir Simon Stevens, NHS Medical Director Professor Stephen Powis, and England’s Chief Nurse Ruth May.

Kokila said: “It was a wonderful experience and I am very grateful for the opportunity to have gone and to represent Queen Victoria Hospital. It’s my first experience of an event like this and I felt nervous because I was amongst VIPs.

“The service was to thank NHS staff but also to remember those who lost their lives looking after patients, especially over the last year. Three people who previously had covid spoke about how they are living because of the NHS. It was a very moving occasion and I feel lucky to have been part of it.”

Earlier this year Kokila was shortlisted for a prestigious “National BAME Health & Care Award” in the category “Compassionate and Inclusive Leader – Role Model.”

St Paul’s Cathedral photo reproduced with credit to Graham Lacdao for St Paul’s Cathedral.

For more information contact the QVH Press Office at qvh.communications@nhs.net.