When Cynthia Mlambo arrived in the UK from South Africa in January 2023, with little more than her bags, she was ready to embrace a new challenge and build a new life. More than three years later, she’s become a familiar face across Cora’s diagnostic services, supporting patients, colleagues and services wherever she’s needed.
As a Healthcare Assistant based in West London, Cynthia’s role is incredibly varied. She works closely with sonographers, seeing up to 30 patients each day, supports cardiac physiologists and also supports in prisons and our MRI units across London.
“I call myself the runner, if someone needs help in another clinic or service, I’m usually happy to go. I enjoy going everywhere and experiencing different parts of the organisation.”
Before joining Cora, Cynthia worked in human resources, accountancy and personal care in South Africa. She relocated to the UK after being identified by Warren Foster, Clinical Director for Diagnostics and Surgical Services, as part of an international recruitment initiative designed to bring talented healthcare professionals to the organisation. Cynthia was part of a wider programme, which also included the recruitment of 30 Radiographers. Her move marked the start of an exciting new chapter, allowing her to build a career in healthcare while bringing a wealth of experience, compassion and transferable skills to support patients every day.
“The first year was difficult,” she explains. “You’re in a new country, you’re on your own and you’re trying to navigate everything, all while missing family back home. But it got better with time. You adjust, you meet people and you find your place.”
One of the things Cynthia enjoys most about her role is the opportunity to make a difference to patients every day.
“I love the patient experience,” she says. “Every patient is different. Some are excited, some are worried, and you get to be part of that journey with them. Sometimes people come in feeling anxious and leave smiling because their worries have been put at ease. That’s really special. Patients sometimes ask you to hold their hand during a scan. At that moment, they’re putting their trust in you and the sonographer. For me, that’s so special.”
“I also really enjoy watching what the sonographers do and learning from them, I find it fascinating. Every scan is different and it’s amazing to see the skill, knowledge and attention to detail involved in helping patients. Working alongside such experienced colleagues has taught me so much and has given me a real appreciation for the important role they play in diagnosing and supporting patients. I love that there’s always something new to learn and being surrounded by people who are so passionate about what they do inspires me every day.”
Cynthia’s willingness to go above and beyond was recognised at the Colleague Excellence Awards earlier this year, where she received a Highly Commended award in the Going the Extra Mile category and won the Committed to Better award. Although she knew she had been nominated, hearing her name called out was still a complete surprise.
“When they called my name, I couldn’t believe it. It was such a shock. Winning the second award was even more overwhelming. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry,” she says. “The first time, I was just thrilled and excited. I work with so many talented people who are so deserving of recognition, so when my name was called again, I was completely stunned. It all felt so surreal and incredibly humbling. Standing on the stage and looking out at everyone is a moment I’ll never forget. One of the first things I did afterwards was call my mum, and seeing how proud she was made it even more special.”
Reflecting on the recognition, Cynthia sees it as acknowledgement of a year spent supporting services across different locations, helping to train colleagues and taking on new challenges.
“It felt like recognition for all the hard work. It was a really good feeling.”
Away from the awards, what stands out most to Cynthia is the culture at Cora.
“I think people genuinely care about each other here,” she says. “There’s empathy. People ask how you’re doing and how they can support you. That’s something I’ve really appreciated and shows that we really do live by that value.”
When asked if she would make the same decision to join Cora and move to the UK again?
“Absolutely,” she says. “It was the right decision. I’ve learned so much, had so many new experiences and worked with some incredible people. I honestly can’t complain. It’s been a really positive experience.
“Moving to the UK has given me opportunities I never imagined, both professionally and personally. The only thing that would make it even better would be having my family here with me. I especially miss my mum. Being so far away from the people you love is difficult, and that’s probably the hardest part of the journey. But despite that, I know I made the right choice, and I’m grateful for everything it’s given me.”