King’s nurse pays tribute to the Queen in BBC documentary

02 June 2022 - Felicia Kwaku has paid tribute to Her Majesty the Queen in a documentary marking the Monarch’s 70 years of service

Felicia Kwaku, Associate Director of Nursing for Acute Speciality Medicine at King’s College Hospital, has paid tribute to Her Majesty the Queen in a BBC One documentary marking the Monarch’s 70 years of service.

Felicia will appear in Our Queen, a Newsround Special, to reflect on the OBE she received in 2020 for supporting the nursing profession during the Covid-19 pandemic. The documentary – airing on the BBC children’s programme Newsround later this week – charts the high and lows of the Queen’s time as the UK’s long-reigning monarch.

Felicia – who is also Chair of the Chief Nursing Officer & Chief Midwifery Officer’s Black, Minority Ethnic Strategic Advisory Group at NHS England and NHS Improvement- supported Black and other Minority Ethnic nurses when staff and media reports revealed that these groups were being disproportionately affected by the Covid-19 virus. Alongside her role at King’s, Felicia and the group delivered webinars to thousands of nurses who felt vulnerable and scared.

Felicia also spoke passionately about the need for appropriate risk assessments and protection for all clinical staff and gave up her free time to support colleagues and residents across England who were fearful about the impact of Covid-19 on them and their families.

In the Newsround special, Felicia talks candidly about the pressures herself and fellow nurses faced during the height of the pandemic, how they supported and looked after one another and pays thanks to the Queen for honouring her contributions.

Felicia said: “It was an honour to be awarded the OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours and to represent thousands of nurses who worked tirelessly to care for those in need. The award has given me a platform to continue to promote equality and diversity within and outside of the NHS, and represent those who feel they do not have a voice.”

Reflecting on the upcoming Platinum Jubilee and her appearance in the BBC documentary, Felicia said: “The Jubilee provides an opportunity to appreciate the changes for good that have taken place during the Queen’s 70-year reign and the challenges we have overcome as a nation.

“I look forward to celebrating this momentous occasion and I would like to personally thank the Queen for supporting our nation through both joyous and hard times.”

Our Queen, a Newsround Special, will air on Thursday 2 June at 6pm and Sunday 5 June at 6.25pm on CBBC.