Zahid Noor: Grit, Gratitude and Belonging in the NHS

Respiratory physician and Associate Medical Director Dr Zahid Noor joins us to share a 35-year story of courage, grit and service — from arriving in the UK from Pakistan in 1989 to mentoring hundreds of internationally educated doctors at Sherwood Forest Hospitals. He recalls the early hurdles of PLAB, culture shock and living on £5 a week for food, right down to the “burnt chickpeas and baked beans” phone-home moment. 

With warmth and humility, Zahid explains why “thank you, please and sorry” are the three most useful words for new colleagues, and how conduct and culture matter as much as clinical skill.  He demystifies medical appraisal — a developmental conversation, not performance management — and how five-yearly revalidation reassures the public that doctors stay current and safe. 

We also touch on a sensitive shift over time: from education-driven migration to more economic drivers, and why a balanced, humane approach helps patients, staff and the wider NHS. Through it all, Zahid’s message is simple: work hard, support one another, and help people belong.