Former NHS Cleaner Becomes Queen’s Nurse After Two-Decade Journey
A Black nurse who began her NHS career as a hospital cleaner has been awarded one of the profession’s highest honours, becoming a Queen’s Nurse in recognition of her contribution to community and palliative care.
Pretty Manyimo, 61, first joined the NHS in 2002 as a cleaner at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester after moving to the UK from Zimbabwe. More than two decades later, she has been inducted into the Queen’s Nursing Institute’s prestigious Queen’s Nurse programme, which recognises nurses who have demonstrated sustained excellence, leadership and commitment to community nursing.
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Ms Manyimo described the recognition as a “great honour” and a milestone that reflects years of determination, perseverance and resilience.
“The sky is the limit if you follow your dreams,” she said. “With determination, perseverance and resilience, you can achieve anything.”
From classroom to hospital wards
Before relocating to the UK, Ms Manyimo worked as a primary school teacher in Zimbabwe. As the eldest child in an extended family, she was familiar with caring responsibilities, but upon arrival in the UK, she had to start at the lowest rung of the employment ladder.
“My first job was a cleaner at Glenfield Hospital,” she said. “Mopping and sweeping the wards was where my NHS journey began.”
She said working alongside nurses on the wards proved transformational.
“My relationship with colleagues motivated me. I watched how they communicated with patients with empathy and compassion, and I wanted to be like them.”
Inspired by what she observed, Ms Manyimo pursued nurse training and qualified as a registered nurse in 2012.
Commitment to community and end-of-life care
In 2013, she joined Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) as a community nurse, delivering care to patients in their own homes. Her professional focus later shifted towards palliative and end-of-life care, influenced by her family’s personal experience.
She said her mother’s poor experience at the end of her life motivated her to specialise in the field to ensure others receive compassionate, dignified care.
Ms Manyimo now works within the integrated specialist palliative care team, a joint service delivered by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust and local hospice LOROS.
Queen’s Nurse recognition
Ms Manyimo was awarded the Queen’s Nurse title in 2025 after a competitive application process overseen by the Queen’s Nursing Institute. The title is granted to community nurses who can demonstrate high levels of clinical expertise, leadership, advocacy and a long-standing commitment to improving patient care.
“It is a source of great pride and professional recognition,” she said. “I was chuffed to be successful.”
Her journey has been described by colleagues as a powerful example of social mobility within the NHS and the vital contributions of internationally educated and Black nurses to the UK healthcare system.
A message for future generations
Ms Manyimo said she hopes her story will inspire others, particularly migrants and healthcare support workers, to believe in their potential.
“No matter where you start, your dreams are valid. The sky truly is the limit.”
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