Barts Health Inspiring Women: Jean Robinson
For International Women's Day 2020 we are interviewing twenty inspiring Barts Health women from across the organisation.
Jean Robinson, Clinical Nursing Specialist for Paediatric Dermatology started her career in 1988 at the London.
She had previously worked here during her nursing training in 1980 and 1981.
Jean said: "I followed in my mother’s footsteps to be a nurse and I was brought up with a strong work ethic which contributed to my career choice. I was the Sister on the one children’s ward which had 27 beds originally. I more recently moved to the Community nursing team of Tower Hamlets looking after children at home."
Over the time Jean has been at the Royal London, there have been many changes, the most notable of which Jean says is that there is now a much more specialised Paediatrics department.
Jean said: "One of my greatest challenges is communicating with the different cultures in the area. I’ve actually taken Bengali classes to get by which has helped me communicate with families for whom English isn’t their first language.
"I then went to Bangladesh for three weeks which was hugely helpful in my research of eczema, to see how healthcare operates over there, or not.
"We studied why the young Bangladeshis get eczema for reasons such as genetic differences and food allergies. This knowledge and research helps the children manage their condition better."
Jean says the most rewarding part of her job is working closely with the community teams in Tower Hamlets, Barking and Havering, Redbridge and Newham.
She said: "It’s rewarding to help families who are struggling with their children’s skin care and prevent them from suffering with their eczema. We give the children a good standard of care that is consistent."
In the future, Jean would like to see little girls grow up to have the ability to make choices and not to be held back by where they are born.
"It’s important to always be energising and a good example to them.
"The work we do is not achievable without a great team and great working relationships. It’s about getting this right for the children, giving them a voice and educating families about how to manage the condition."