Rekha is a Churchill Fellow palliative care nurse senior public health nurse freelance consultant Queens Nurse
Rekha is a senior public health and palliative care nurse and freelance consultant with considerable experience of developing models of integrated health in Frailty and Palliative care, and in community-asset building addressing health inequalities in the UK and abroad. As a Queens Nurse and Churchill Fellow, Rekha has successfully pioneered Neighbourhood Networks, a unique model of community capacity building in Advance care planning, palliative care and culturally aligned grief literacy for populations facing deprivation, racial minoritisation and marginalisation.
More About Rekha
Rekha’s comprehensive insight into the penalties of health inequity comes from her multi-sector professional experience in community and voluntary, public health, social care and NHS. She led the 0-19 team during the Grenfell Fire tragedy, worked as Deputy General Manager and Clinical Lead for a leading social care provider in Frailty and Dementia and as Deputy Head of Quality and Clinical Governance for a national end of life charity. She is a Visiting Associate with UCL and an OU Visiting Fellow, actively engaged in health equity research and publishing. As a freelance nurse consultant, Rekha works with leading national and international charities advising on public health approaches to addressing health inequalities, and building evidence-informed quality improvement projects.
Work and Values
Rekha was awarded the Associateship of King's College for her interest in Theology. As a poet and writer, she writes with a deep sensitivity and fierce hope.
Awards
Rekha was brought into nursing from caring for her seriously ill husband, as a young mother. Her work, writing and research, have focussed on contemplations on the value and purpose of serious illness and loss. With a focus on lived experience of individuals and communities, Rekha has sought to explore what it means to be seriously ill, and a family caregiver in a structurally inequitable palliative care provision in the UK. Rekha values humility, convivial scholarship and truth telling with compassion.
Queen’s Nurse
Awarded by the Queen’s Nursing Institute, this title recognises outstanding nursing leadership and commitment to high standards of patient care in the community.
Learn more about the Queen’s Nurse title
Marie Curie Suzie Wilkinson Award for Research Development 2024
This award celebrates exceptional contributions to palliative care research and practice improvement, particularly in addressing health inequalities in end-of-life care.
Central London Community Healthcare Trust Equality and Diversity Award 2019
Recognises excellence in promoting inclusion, equity, and diversity within healthcare systems and communities.
King’s Leadership Award 2015
Recognises outstanding leadership in healthcare or academic settings at King’s College London.
Churchill Fellow in Palliative Care 2024
Rekha was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2024 to advance research in culturally aligned community palliative care models. The fellowship supports innovative projects addressing urgent social needs.
Nursing Times Community Placement Provider 2019
Honours Rekha’s leadership in offering high-quality placements for student nurses, fostering learning and compassionate practice in community-based care settings.
Associateship of King’s College, London 2016
Awarded for academic achievement and commitment to theological study, with a focus on ethics, care, and community engagement.
King’s London Award 2014
Acknowledges exceptional academic or community-focused achievements at King’s College London.