I had the privilege of representing our community at Nursing Live UK surrounded by passionate professionals, visionary leaders, and change-makers shaping the future of our profession.
I was honoured to join a thought-provoking panel discussion, brilliantly chaired by Louie Horne B.E.M. exploring a question that goes to the heart of our values:
“Equality, Diversity & Inclusion – What’s the future for the nursing profession?”
Over the past five years, the conversation around Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) has undeniably evolved.
We’ve made meaningful progress:
✅ From awareness to action — open conversations about structural inequities, power, privilege, and belonging.
✅ A more mature understanding of intersectionality and how identities overlap and shape experiences.
✅ Integration of EDI principles into recruitment, policy, and professional development — no longer an add-on, but a measure of competence.
But let’s be honest — progress alone is not enough.
⚠️ The lived experience of many marginalised nurses still doesn’t reflect the inclusive values we promote.
⚠️ Accountability and transparency remain weak — inclusion is rarely linked to leadership outcomes.
⚠️ Representation at senior levels and psychological safety continue to lag.
During the session, I shared a deeply distressing and recent example of an Internationally Educated Nurse (IEN) who faced unjust treatment following an unverified complaint.
This particular example happened in 2025 — a stark reminder that while we have learned the language of inclusion, we have not yet consistently lived it.
As I said during the discussion: “There remains a massive gap between the lived experience and the EDI policies we proudly display in our NHS. Bridging that gap requires courage, accountability, and action from leaders — not just words.”
True inclusion isn’t a slogan or a checkbox.
It’s about creating a culture where every nurse — regardless of background, accent, or country of qualification — feels valued, safe, and seen.
Because inclusion isn’t a policy — it’s a promise. 🌍🩺
Marimouttou Coumarassamy MBE, Deputy Chief Operating Officer at HIOWH and the Founder and Chairman of the British Indian Nurses Association (BINA)