Weronika Gola, 26, is a healthcare assistant on ward 8 – general surgery – at Bradford Royal Infirmary. Originally from Zielona Gora in western Poland, she now lives in Shipley.
She has worked at Bradford Teaching Hospitals for two years, after moving to the UK from Poland six years ago with her boyfriend Norbert, who also works for the Trust.
Weronika has always wanted to work in the health sector, and began volunteering at a nursing home close to her home in Poland aged just 15.
She said: “It’s always been my passion to work in a hospital as I really enjoy helping other people. And I love working on ward 8 – I think it’s the best ward! Everyone is lovely and really helpful, there’s great teamwork and we help each other.
“I’ve been in England for six years and I’ve always wanted to work in the NHS. I worked in a nursing home in Leeds first, which was enjoyable, but I’m very happy that I’ve been able to get into the NHS and work at the hospital.
“I’m a trainee healthcare assistant now. I’m studying for my level II Diploma in Health and Social Care and, after that, I would like to do level III and look at qualifying to become a nurse.
“You can become a nursing association here and qualify as a nurse that way.”
The Trust offers various routes into nursing and recently welcomed 17 new apprentice nursing associates as they start their training in our hospitals.
Almost all of our latest cohort of nursing associates already worked with us as healthcare assistants and have snapped up the fantastic opportunity to earn while they learn.
