Peterborough Hero - Miquilina Benguela (Lina)
/I'm delighted to shine a spotlight on another one of Peterborough's heroes.
‘Peterborough Heroes’ is a project where I do a free family photoshoot for someone who goes above and beyond in helping the community. If you'd like to nominate someone then let me know and I'll add them to the list.
The wonderful Lina (in the beige top) was recommended to me by one of my clients, Jean (in the black top). The lady in the grey top is Isabel, Lina's sister who was visiting from Portugal. Lina has no family in the UK.
Jean told me…
“Lina works full time as a healthcare assistant at Peterborough Hospital and during busy periods she volunteers to forego her days off to help her colleagues. She moves from ward to ward, wherever she is needed most. Life has thrown a lot at her but she always has a smile.”
Lina said…
“I never thought of myself as an hero. I am the kind of person that believe that we must give the best of ourselves in any job we do this is my philosophy.
I joined the NHS in August 2019 I was amazed by the values of the company and wish to embrace it. Every time I had training I was impressed by the new discoveries and strategies NHS made to make staff life easier and patients be more independent and return to be part of society.
NHS values: Working together for patients, patients come first in everything we do; respect and dignity; commitment to quality care; compassion; improving lives; everyone counts; valuing our differences; being open and honest; encouraging others
What I know about myself is that I am courageous and always want to do an outstanding job and I started to know more about myself as a person with noble qualities, an expansive sense of empathy and with emotional resilience and also that I am a determined person and have compassion.
My first role at the NHS was as a housekeeper to support clinical staff by maintaining and restocking all areas of the department, ordering stock, monitor quality standards and report deficiencies to ensure the department is safe.
In November 2021 I started the role as Healthcare assistant full time and housekeeper as a bank shift and as Hca in different departments and I learned a lot.
To do the job as a healthcare assistant we must be a sensitive and understanding person and one of the benefits of both jobs are that both roles are varied.
At this moment I am recovering from health problems and I never thought that I will face it the way I am. I feel proud of myself and without my family next to me (they are all in Portugal) it is hard but I am getting stronger and thank God I have valuable friends that are supportive.”
My experience of photographing Lina...
The first words on my website are ‘Photographs with feeling for people who are full of life, love and laughter’ and Lina ticks all the boxes. She spent the whole photoshoot laughing and smiling with very little effort from me.
It’s no wonder she does a job where being caring is so important. I have so much respect for everyone who does a job like Lina and it’s particularly impressive since she has her own health problems. if I ever go back to Peterborough Hospital I want it to be in her ward!
Many thanks for all the incredible work you've done over the years to help the community. And Lina, I hope whatever health problems you're recovering from that you make a full and speedy recovery because Peterborough and the planet needs people like you to stay fit and healthy.
