New Report Launch of On the Frontline: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Filipino Community in the UK

In Spring 2020, 22% of Covid-19 related deaths amongst NHS nurses were Filipino, despite them representing only 3.8% of NHS nurses. Covid-19 had a devastating impact on the Filipino community as Filipino health, care, and domestic workers worked at the frontline of the pandemic, while community members with precarious immigration status were excluded from accessing healthcare due to NHS charging and data sharing regimes. However, in this context, Kanlungan Filipino Consortium cemented its place as the leading organisation support and campaigning for the rights of Filipino migrants in the UK — regardless of their status or work.

In the context of Kanlungan’s participation in the Covid-19 Inquiry, we are launching a report giving an account of the experiences of the community during the pandemic and the extensive policy, advocacy, and direct support work Kanlungan delivered during this period — from Filipino food for NHS workers to vaccination clinics and immigration advice.

We will be joined by:

• Lia Bote, Report Author

• Louie Horne, Vice President of the Filipino Nurses Association UK (FNAUK) and Senior Strategic Improvement Lead at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

• Christanghelo Godino Barde, Campaigns & Advocacy Manager

• Kanlungan Staff and Volunteers who delivered this community support during the pandemic

Lia Bote, report author, is from Bulacan, Philippines and has been living in the UK since 2019. Currently, she is a PhD student at the University of Cambridge researching infectious disease biology with an interest in global health equity. She volunteers with Kanlungan on various research projects, including an upcoming study on care workers in the UK.

Louie Horne is an accomplished healthcare leader, currently serving as the Vice President of the Filipino Nurses Association UK (FNAUK) and Senior Strategic Improvement Lead at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT). A passionate advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion, Louie has over 25 years of experience supporting nurses, particularly from ethnic minority backgrounds, and driving transformative change in healthcare.

Louie was the first Filipino nurse to join the NHS England team as a Workforce Race Equality Standard Clinical Research Fellow and worked closely with the Chief Nursing Officer for England on the 50k Nurses Programme. She has led impactful initiatives, including the Cultural Awareness Programme, the Internationally Educated Nurses (IEN) Induction Programme, and equity-focused projects using WRES data. As Chair of the Filipino Senior Nurses Alliance UK (FSNAUK), Louie leads 150 senior nurses across the UK, championing professional development and collaboration.

Recognised for her outstanding contributions, Louie was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) by King Charles, the Silver Chief Nursing Officer Award from Dame Ruth May, and was named on HSJ’s 50 Most Influential BAME Leaders in 2022 and 2023. She also serves as a judge for HSJ, Nursing Standard, and Nursing Times, and as a member of the RCNi Editorial Advisory Board.

Structure:

1. Presentation by Lia of the report – 15-20 min
2. Discussion between panelist in reaction to the report – 30-35 min
3. Q&A with audience, facilitated by Christ – 30 min
4. Food and mingling