Dorset nurse invited by The King to royal reception
Deepa Pappu attended the event to celebrate international nursing
A Dorset nurse has been to Buckingham Palace, at the invitation of The King.
Deepa Pappu has been along to a reception celebrating the role of international nurses and midwives in the UK.
She's an equality, diversity, and inclusion lead at University Hospitals Dorset, and was included after NHS England recognised her contributions to nursing in her role as professional nurse advocate.
Deepa joined the NHS from Kerala in Southern India in 2004.
Throughout her career she's helped to welcome other internationally educated nurses as they arrive in Dorset and during the Covid-19 pandemic, Deepa supported new arrivals who were isolated from their home support systems.
Deepa said:
“I am deeply moved by His Majesty’s thoughtful gesture of spending time with international nurses and midwives on his birthday. It was one of the most memorable days of my career. My family back home and friends around the world were super excited. The kind and happy messages from my colleagues made me feel truly loved.
"To be invited to the palace and shake hands with The King was beyond my dreams. It was pure joy.”