Hasina Aziz

Hasina Aziz: Clinical Lead Podiatrist

Hasina is an internationally-qualified podiatrist from South Africa who moved to the UK and has progressed her career in the at-risk foot and leadership and management within the NHS.

Motivation to move to the UK

I qualified as a podiatrist in January 2008 in South Africa. I researched careers as my mom had suffered from problems in her legs and feet. I was successfully accepted onto the degree and had to move 1400km away from home to pursue this as there was and still is only one podiatry school in the whole of Africa. I met my British husband while he was in Cape Town and three years later we got married and I moved to the UK to start a new chapter in my life. 

However, once here I saw so many career opportunities and all the positives made me overlook the poor weather factor as well as having none of my family around.

Challenges with HCPC registration and driving.

I applied for HCPC registration in September 2009 and due to them having to liaise with the University and clashing term times this took 5-6 months. I eventually received this in the post in February 2010. Whilst waiting for this to come through I started taking driving lessons as most podiatry jobs required clinicians to do domiciliary visits. I successfully passed whilst waiting to get registered.

I then applied for professional registration which was a simple and quick task. The next challenge was looking for jobs within the NHS as this was the path I wanted to take.

Challenges in getting a job in the UK

At the time I applied for jobs near where I was living (North West) and at first applied for five and made it to the interview, but I was rejected. When I asked for feedback, there was a clear trend. They all said the same thing “The only thing letting you down is you have no NHS experience.” At this point I felt let down, demotivated and showing signs of depression.

This went on for a month and in total I applied for 15 jobs and was rejected by all 15, giving the same reason.

My husband and I then made the choice that to move forward I should register with locum agencies, and I paid for several DBS checks with various agencies. Soon after, I got a phone call asking if I would locum for a month in the South and I jumped at the opportunity.

I was a locum for nine months in total and did this around the country which was challenging but at the same time gave me that important NHS experience I was initially lacking.

This allowed me to apply for a job in Kent which I thankfully got. I stayed there for over 10 years and worked my way up the band ladder from 5, 6 and eventually a 7. When starting this role, I lived in hospital accommodation which gave my husband enough time to sort out a job transfer and also allowed us to save money for a deposit on our first home.

Negatives of working in the UK - racism

I would be lying if I said there are no negatives. However, the one thing I would like to highlight is that though we would not want race/religion to impact recruitment, it still does.

As a person of colour and growing up in Apartheid I thought coming to a first-world country like the UK I would not experience racism. Until very recently I have been asked by service users and colleagues “Why did you not stay in your country and work? Or why don’t you go back to your country.” I even attended an interview just two years ago and the minute I walked in I could tell from my experience that the panel’s body language and tone changed when they saw me. Whilst this may be an assumption, I will add that someone who has been through this will be able to identify these behaviours.

Positives of working in the UK

• Fantastic opportunities to progress in your career.
• NHS supports training and helps clinicians identify training needs/ areas and give staff protected time to complete the targets set out via appraisals.
• Once in employment the support you get is fantastic concerning mentoring and training
• Podiatry as a profession is growing in appreciation and respect
• Job satisfaction within the NHS is phenomenal.
• Excellent NHS pension scheme which reduces stress when thinking ahead
• The increase in integrated working has evolved which positively impacts patient care and outcomes.
• Equal pay and the fact that pay is something which is regularly reviewed and challenged.
• As an individual, there are numerous ways to positively improve your knowledge/skill within either NHS/private sector.
• Extended maternity leave
• Flexible working is also a massive positive for anyone with other commitments and the fact that you are in your right to request this (most organisations have a flexible working policy)

Experiences I have gained within the NHS and how my role has progressed

I have had so many opportunities to progress within my career. I started as a generalist and was able to focus on a specialism once I knew what that was. I have had so many positive experiences in MDT working which I know if I were still in South Africa I would not get. I was an inpatient Diabetes Podiatrist during my early days then progressed to wound Specialist working in the Community and MDT Foot clinics. I have gained years of experience in the Vulnerable at-risk foot and have now progressed into a managerial Clinical Team Leader role which is very well supported in addition to my clinical role.

Long term goal

If the opportunity arises, I would love to use my skills and the knowledge I have gained in a practical way to support students undertaking the Podiatry degree to ensure the quality of students who qualify are of a high standard.

I hope that sharing my story will highlight the issues and look at ways to support international recruits and help to reduce their stresses and provide constant reassurance.

Recommendations for podiatrists looking to work in the UK

For anyone coming over to the UK, I would strongly advise you to look at the practicalities of relocation and ensure the right support structure is in place to help make the journey as seamless as possible with minimal financial risk.

Lastly, I would like to add, that every individual's journey is different so it is genuinely what you make of it and what your end goal is. I am hopeful that anyone reading this will feel inspired to take that plunge: “If I could do it, so could you!”

Hard work, determination and support in my opinion is the key to any successful journey