In today’s episode, I talk with Professor Narinder Kapur, visiting professor of neuropsychology at UCL in London. 

Narinder is not a nurse, but has done incredible work to support nurses after his own harrowing experience of unfair dismissal within healthcare.

Narinder suffered an extremely stressful unfair dismissal earlier in his career and fought for justice as a result.

His plight, inspired by Gandhian principles, led him to uncover structural issues with racism, unfairness, and inequality when addressing disciplinary procedures and investigations of whistleblowing in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).

In this episode, Narinder talks candidly about his own experience and how that led him to support other healthcare staff, including nurses, who subsequently went through similar things. 

He talks in-depth about nurse Amin Abdullah, a nurse who died of suicide following the shame he experienced as a result of what turned out to be unfair treatment and dismissal by his employer.

In this moving conversation, Narinder outlines:

>Current issues with bias and racism in healthcare

>Shortcomings of disciplinary procedures

>Problems with managerial structures in the NHS and how to change them

>The key features of his roadmap to create a fairer system to support whistleblowers and those who are undergoing investigation.

>The issues surrounding the case of Amin Abdullah, and what he and Amin’s partner did to campaign for change

>What the key learning and lessons are from Amin’s suicide, and how to prevent further ones in the future. 

>His advice for people going through disciplinary procedures: Get independent advice and do what you can to take care of your own wellbeing.

To find out more about Narinder’s work and the recommendations he makes, see:

https://www.abetternhs.com/

A moving video explaining more about the case of Amin Abdullah: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0_f2KtK914&t=433s&ab_channel=NarinderKapur

RCN Foundation and link to the Amin Abdullah Award: https://rcnfoundation.rcn.org.uk/

Our website:

www.nursewellbeingmission.com

If you’re a nurse or midwife interested in further resources and conversations from us, join our Facebook group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/nursewellbeingmission