LONDON 18 January 2019 — Filipino robotic lead nurse at The Royal London Joy Ongcachuy received an Order of the British Empire (OBE) Award during the 2019 New Year’s Honours in London on 29 December 2018.
Ms. Ongcachuy received the award alongside two other medical professionals and members of the MET police who immediately sprang to action in caring for the injured in the 2017 London Bridge terrorist attacks.
“I was working the night shift that night and I heard the anesthetist’s bleep go off. We already had a really sick patient in one of our theatres, so I had to get our other theatres ready and pull a team of nurses, allied health professionals and operating department practitioners together,” said Ms. Ongcachuy, who hails from Talisayan, Misamis Oriental.
“We opened an additional six theatres that night and everyone I called dropped everything they were doing to come to the aid of the patients. No one panicked; everyone was calm and so supportive.”
“Their leadership, compassion and integrity is inspiring every day, but was especially true at a time when Londoners relied on us to be there for them,” said Jackie Sullivan, managing director at the Royal London and Mile End hospitals.
The Filipina nurse started working at The Royal London Hospital in 2002. In a desire to begin anew with her family in the United Kingdom, she and 23 other Filipino nurses joined The Royal London as a scrub nurse, until she was promoted to lead nurse in 2017.
Ms. Ongcachuy expressed that she had always wanted to be a nurse because she loves to look after people, driven by her passion to provide care to others. She also makes sure that all new Filipino nurses feel welcomed and supported when they join the hospital she currently works in.
“It is a proud moment for all Filipinos to have someone like Joy honoured with an Order of the British Empire award. Joy’s courage, passion, and dedication to serve and care for her patients is truly an inspiring and heartwarming example,” Ambassador to the United Kingdom Antonio M. Lagdameo said.
The OBE is a prestigious award conferred on those who have “made achievements in public life,” or “committed themselves to serving and helping Britain.” According to GOV.UK, the nominee must still be actively involved in what they are being nominated for.
Once the honour’s list has been drafted by the Cabinet Office Honours and Appointments Secretariat, the committee’s recommendations go to British Prime Minister Theresa May and then to Queen Elizabeth II who awards the honour. END
For more information, visit www.londonpe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/pg/PHLinUK and @philippinesinuk on Twitter.