Top women named as health inspirations

Three pioneering staff at Guy’s and St Thomas’ have been named as inspirational women by Health Service Journal magazine.

Consultant obstetrician Dr Daghni Rajasingam, Dr Ingrid Wolfe who is director of the Evelina London Child Health Programme, and Comfort Momoh, female genital mutilation (FGM) and public health specialist, were named on the annual list that celebrates healthcare’s most inspirational women.

A ceremony was held on Wednesday 9 July where 50 women from across healthcare were named as outstanding leaders and role models who are driving change in the NHS.

Dr Rajasingam was chosen for her extensive efforts to raise the profile of women’s health issues.

She says: “I am delighted to be on the list and would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the enormous contribution made to healthcare by women in this country. I hope this list will inspire many other women to take on leadership roles.” 

Dr Wolfe was recognised for her research and the opportunities she takes to make the public and government aware of it.

She says: “We have a great team working at the Evelina London Child Health Programme, many of whom I am pleased to say are women. We’re very excited to be working to make health services better for children and young people.”

Midwife Comfort Momoh, who opened one of the UK’s first FGM clinics in 1997 and now treats more than 300 women a year, was nominated for her dedication to end FGM in the UK and around the world.

She says: “It’s a privilege to be named as an inspirational woman. It is poignant because it means people are not afraid to speak out about FGM, a subject that has been kept quiet for too long.

“It has been a long time coming, but along with the recent support from the media and government, people are really starting to take notice and help to end FGM.”

Fran Woodard, former Director of the King's Health Partners Integrated Cancer Centre and Director of Transformation and Organisational Development at Guy’s and St Thomas’, was also named on the list for ‘leading some of the most genuinely patient-centred projects in the NHS’.

The full list of inspirational women is on the HSJ website.