Mental health nurse invited to Number 10 to celebrate NHS | News and events

An inspirational nurse from Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) was invited to 10 Downing Street because of her work to improve the experience of people receiving mental health care.

Priscilla Nzounhenda is Matron at Lark Ward, NSFT’s psychiatric intensive care unit in Ipswich. She was one of 150 NHS staff specially invited to a garden party on 4 July to celebrate 74 years of the health service.

“It was surreal,” she said. “Standing at the door to No 10 where world leaders have stood. And then stepping through into the hallway. I thought I was dreaming.”

Priscilla chatted with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Sajid Javid, the then Health Secretary, Amanda Pritchard, Chief Executive of NHS England, and Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England.

“I wanted to showcase the great work going on at the Trust, so I spoke about areas such as our improvement work and zero suicide commitment,” she said.

Priscilla was nominated by Lisa Nobes, Director of Nursing at the then Suffolk and North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group, and our Trust’s Chief Nurse, Diane Hull.

She added: “When the invitation arrived from No 10, I was really emotional. Then when I read why I had been invited, I cried. It was so touching. I feel so grateful and genuinely humbled to have been chosen.”

The nomination highlighted her achievements in significantly improving patient care through her #respondatfirstknock initiative, increasing activities and creating a culture of hope and belief; driving efforts to reduce restrictive interventions in East Suffolk; and leading Quality Improvement projects to tackle racism. 

Diane said: “Priscilla is compassionate, considered, kind and clinically credible. She has led with tenacity and positivity throughout the pandemic and as we recover.

“Her excitement is infectious and her ability to enthuse and inspire, renowned. Priscilla is a very special person and a wonderful nurse. She is a role model for all those who work with her or are cared for by her.”