The refugee nurse whose smile lights up a Teesside hospital

WHILE bombs continue to explode in her home country as the Middle Eastern crisis rages on, Aya Yassin has found peace and happiness as a nurse in the National Health Service.

It is almost two years since Aya made a “life-changing” journey from Lebanon to England to take up a role in the Accident and Emergency department of The James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough.

Amid a national shortage of nurses in the UK, she is fulfilling a desperate need in the NHS, while building a new life she clearly loves.

“This is my heaven – my second home,” is how the 24-year-old describes the A&E department at one of the North’s busiest hospitals.

“Everything about it makes me happy – especially my colleagues. From the day I arrived, they have made me feel welcome and protected me.

“Everyone, the patients and my colleagues, says I have a smiley face, and that is because I am so happy working here. I like the variety, the complicated cases – I love a challenge.”

Aya Yassin (Image: Peter Barron) Aya is speaking on her day off and, as well as the hijab that must cover her head whenever she's outside, she's proudly wearing a beautiful red and black traditional dress.

Her parents sent it from Lebanon after hearing their daughter was to be interviewed and photographed for this feature, marking International Nurses Day.

Aya, who was born in Lebanon, chose nursing because she wants to help others. She recalls the time when she was at school and a friend had a fit on a bus. Aya impressed all those around her with the calm way she responded to the emergency.

She studied for a nursing degree at university in Lebanon and qualified as a registered nurse, gaining experience in a variety of hospital departments, including a Covid ward, as well as working as a private carer for two vulnerable couples.

But with opportunities for career progression extremely limited in her home country, she was attracted by an opportunity to move to the UK through Talents Beyond Boundaries, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to connecting refugees to international job opportunities.

Having waited two years after applying, she arrived in this country on June 29, 2023 – a date that’s etched in her memory – and initially started working as a health care assistant at The James Cook University Hospital, which serves as a regional major trauma centre.

She’s had to pass three key tests – including one in occupational English – to become a registered nurse in the UK, and confirmation of her qualification is expected any day.

“Lebanon is a good country but, as a Palestinian, there was no chance to go further in my career,” she explains. “I always dreamed of travelling and, when I was given this opportunity, it was a blessing.”

At first, Aya was anxious about racism and bullying, but she is full of praise for the Middlesbrough community and especially the support she's had from her colleagues and the Trust.

“People are so friendly here. Often they say ‘good morning’ or ‘hi’ when they are passing, and that makes me happy,” says Aya, who lives near the hospital.

“When I came here, I had no real confidence and self-esteem but, through the support from patients, doctors, and my colleagues, I have so much more confidence now.”

Aya has even had British patients greeting her with Islamic phrases they've learned, such as “Assalamu Alaykum”, meaning “peace be upon you”.

“It’s so nice to hear that,” she says, adding that her colleagues have also tried to learn her language.

Last summer, Middlesbrough was a flashpoint during riots around the country, but Aya was grateful for the messages she received, telling her “This is not us” and checking she was OK.

She also says South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been “extremely supportive and respectful of her needs”.

For example, as a Muslim during Ramadan, she can't eat between sunrise and sunset, and must pray every five hours. Throughout that month of fasting, the trust responded flexibly to her request to work night shifts and take prayer breaks.

At the end of Ramadan, Aya marked the festival of Eid by bringing treats and decorations into work, while her colleagues joined in the celebration by ordering pizzas!

She is now hoping to stay in the UK and build a career with the NHS, possibly becoming a nursing practitioner or moving into a management role, and she has become a passionate advocate for the NHS.

“In Lebanon, you have to pay for medical services. If you don’t have money, you can’t go into hospital. People die at the hospital door,” she explains.

“Here, it is free. There might be a long wait sometimes but there is no cost, so everyone should appreciate the value of NHS.”

Meanwhile, back in Lebanon, with the bombing intensifying, her family moved to a Palestinian refugee camp in the north of the country a year ago, in the hope it will be safer. Her mother, father, brother and two sisters – one of them also a nurse – are still there.

“It became very bad. Every day, I woke up and looked at the news on my phone to see what is happening. They could have been killed at any time, but my colleagues cared for me when I was anxious.”

In contrast to the conflict in the Middle East, Aya enjoys peaceful walks in Albert Park. “I love the nature and the trees,” she says.

She is learning to swim, and a colleague has promised to teach her to ride a bike, though she is never happier than when she's on duty in her beloved A&E.

“Of course, it's not always easy, but I have made it a rule in my life to never complain. That way I don’t have to deal with negative energy. I can wake up and be grateful for what I have in life.”

Recent data shows that more than 17 per cent of NHS staff are from overseas, with that figure rising to 27 per cent for nurses. We need skilled, caring, dedicated professionals, like Aya, from other countries.

Indeed, Jomer Beron, a clinical educator for international nurses for South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, describes multiculturalism as "the heartbeat of the NHS – bringing diverse perspectives, compassion, and strength to patient care".

He goes on to say that Aya embodies this spirit, adding: "Through her dedication, resilience, and pursuit of excellence, she not only achieves her own dreams but uplifts the standard of care for everyone around her. She is a shining example of the power and promise of international nursing.”

Assalamu Alaykum, Aya.