International nurse feels protected by hospital

Nurse Korina Sibanda and colleagues showcased their Zimbabwean heritage at Leighton Hospital, Crewe

A hospital nurse from Zimbabwe says that amid anti-immigration movements in the UK she feels protected by her employer, where senior figures have been outlining their support for the international workforce.

Korina Sibanda works at Crewe's Leighton Hospital where more than 15% of staff are from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Speaking at the hospital's Celebrating Cultures event which showcases employees' varied heritage, she told the BBC she had never considered leaving the UK, despite the current political climate.

Mid Cheshire Hospitals Trust's head of wellbeing and inclusion Bobby Sharma said there was now an "element of hostility" towards his international colleagues and while it had not entered the workplace, their broader experience was shifting.

"For a lot of people, this is the first time they've experienced overt racism and [seen] it on the streets," he said.

Instances of graffiti messages reflecting an intolerance towards immigration have emerged in Crewe recently, and arrive against a backdrop of protests held across England this summer at asylum seeker hotels and also seafronts.

"I don't really feel scared because I know I've got a Trust that is quite supportive," Nurse Sibanda said.

Initials representing English Defence League were sprayed on this sign at an Asda in Crewe

As for the celebration event, in which staff shared food and wore dress representing different nations, Nurse Sibanda said it had been a success.

"It's actually quite amazing," she said, "It's nice for us to let the UK people experience our culture."

Authentic song and dance performances included staff members from Nepal, India and Jamaica.

"It's really good for the patients to be cheered up like that and for them to also experience our culture," Nurse Sibanda explained.

The event is an annual occasion.

"It's something that we feel passionately about," said Mr Sharma. "It's about getting all staff to understand the different cultures that are working within the trust."

He added: "The trust is absolutely supportive of a zero tolerance approach [to racism]. The trust will not tolerate any behaviour or discrimination that resembles anything close to racism at all."

And all that in turn was fostering a culture of support, suggested Nurse Sibanda, who, by way of example, said she remembered being offered lifts to work by colleagues during last year's riots, sparked by the murder of three girls in Southport.

"I feel quite protected as an international nurse," she said. "Not once did I even think that I am going to leave the UK."

A message reading 'this is England', added to a business's wall in Crewe, has since been crossed out