Brendalee Wiggins was among several nurses from across the UK invited for a special reception to celebrate the monarch’s 75th birthday, reports Louis Altmann

Brendalee Wiggins outside Buckingham Palace

A nurse from North Middlesex Hospital “thought it was a dream” when she was invited to meet King Charles at Buckingham Palace for outstanding efforts in supporting international nurses.

Brendalee Wiggins was among several nurses and midwives from across the UK who took part in the reception on Tuesday (14th) which coincided with King Charles’s 75th birthday.

The reception was held to celebrate the contribution of international nurses and midwives in the UK health and social care sector.

Wiggins began her career as a healthcare support worker in 2002, and completed her nursing training in 2012. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she led the international nurses’ programme. North Middlesex University Hospital Trust say she provided “immeasurable support to nurses” in helping them pass their exams. She also provided nurses’ spouses with job leads, and signposted nurses to diaspora and wellbeing groups.

Recently Wiggins has created an international nurses’ ambassador group for North Central London (NCL), enabling collaboration between hospitals in the area. She has also designed a development programme for nurses educated abroad who work across NCL.

When asked how she reacted to the news of an invite from the King, Brendalee said: “I thought it was a dream, because I thought I’m only doing my job and here I am being awarded for it by the most important person in the UK […] I was very proud.”

She added that she was not always aware of the impact she made, but that the honour was not just hers: “Sometimes I don’t realise how much I do because I really love what I do, and I totally enjoy my job. Sometimes I wish I could do more but have to remind myself that I’m always doing my best.

“This honour is not for just me, but for my colleagues and everyone at North Mid supporting the diversity and inclusion of international nurses in our hospital.”

Wiggins said the most rewarding part of her job was helping new nurses to spread their wings: “One of my greatest rewards is seeing those newly arrived nurses all quiet and withdrawn as they try to adapt into their new environment. Over the course of their adjustment, they come out of their shell and start to socialise and be themselves.

“I am most proud when I see the nurses I mentored working now in senior roles.”

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