We are UHB: Salma Bi, Sister

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust runs Good Hope, Heartlands, Queen Elizabeth and Solihull hospitals, the Birmingham Chest Clinic, and Solihull community services.

When I look back on my career, both in nursing and cricket, it’s been a journey shaped by passion, resilience, and the desire to make a difference. I work in the dialysis unit at Heartlands Hospital and have done so for over 15 years. Nursing wasn’t my first path; I initially considered a career in law. But when I lost my mum at the age of nine, I knew deep down that I wanted to work in a hospital, to help people in the way I wish I could have helped her. And if I’m honest, my heart really wasn’t in law.

Over the years, I’ve grown from a newly-qualified nurse starting on the Acute Medical Unit into my role as a band 6 sister, specialising in renal care. I was aware of dialysis as my auntie was on dialysis when I was growing up. My job has been incredibly rewarding, particularly as I’ve had the chance to work with our amazing multi-disciplinary team (MDT) and care for patients who depend on dialysis. ?I also work as a transplant coordinator, as well as supporting access for dialysis treatment, looking after AV fistula (a surgical connection between one of your arteries and one of your veins) and central venous catheter (CVC), a long, flexible tube your provider inserts into a vein in your neck, chest, arm or groin. It’s a privilege to support patients through such a critical part of their lives; it’s a lot of fun, and rewarding to work in specialist nursing.

But there’s another side to me: cricket. I’ve been playing the sport for over 20 years, ever since I was a child playing in the back garden with my brothers and dad. Growing up in an Asian household, pursuing cricket wasn’t easy; cultural barriers made it hard to be taken seriously. My dad, a judo wrestler, wasn’t initially on board, but when I started bringing home trophies, he came around. I’ve always loved spin bowling, inspired by Shane Warne, and it was that drive that got me selected to play for Worcestershire County. I didn’t just make it to the team; I became the first Muslim girl to play for the county, breaking barriers and showing that determination can take you places you never imagined.

There were moments when I wanted to give up. Being the 12th woman at matches and watching from the sidelines felt disheartening, but inspirational words from England star Charlotte Edwards and being recognised at the British Asian Sports awards by sporting greats like Denise Lewis, inspired me to keep going. In 2021, I was honoured with a British Empire Medal in the New Year’s Honours list, and that recognition felt like the culmination of everything I’ve worked for. It wasn’t just about cricket; it was about balancing my nursing career, my family, and my love for sport.

One of my proudest moments came during the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where I was chosen as one of 14 ‘Hometown Heroes’. Seeing my mural at Birmingham New Street train station was surreal, but more than that, it was a chance to show my children that with hard work and perseverance, you can achieve anything.

I’ve also blended my love of sport with my role in healthcare, founding Sporting Pathways, a community interest company. We even set a world record; 20 hours of continuous women’s cricket, beating the previous men’s record! I’ve also taken this passion back into nursing, working on initiatives to improve staff wellbeing, encouraging a focus on self-care and physical health. We often remind our patients to look after themselves, but how often do we, as healthcare workers, take that advice? I recently started a fruit basket on our unit for my colleagues, where we all add items to help keep us going during those busy shifts. ?I have recently written up an abstract and it was all about the wellbeing of nurses and I presented it at the nurse’s conference. It was the best of three posters, so we were lucky to be the prize winners. It's nice that I can mix my sports into my nursing as well and mix the nursing into sports. ?

In everything I do, whether on the dialysis ward or the cricket pitch, my goal is simple: to inspire others to follow their dreams, break barriers, and always strive for more. If there’s one lesson I’ve learned, it’s that nothing is impossible when you’re willing to work for it. My job is so rewarding, and I also know that my mum would be proud that I have followed this career and help others.

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