As we continue our South Asian Heritage Month (18th July to 17th August) celebrations, we’re proud to share stories from some of the incredible South Asian colleagues who make a real difference every single day at Leeds Teaching Hospitals.
This month is a special opportunity to recognise the contributions, heritage, and inspiring journeys of our South Asian staff, who care for patients, support families, and enrich our workforce with their skills, values, and lived experiences.
Stay tuned as we continue to spotlight their powerful stories throughout the month, in line with this year’s theme: Roots to Routes.
Name: Rajvir Kaur Duggal
Job Title: Assistant Patient service Co Ordinator
Could you share your story of your family’s journey from South Asia to the UK?
My roots are from a small village in Punjab, India, where I was surrounded by my extended family. It was my grandparents who truly shaped my values, teaching me how to live a good life and, most importantly, how to cherish and look after our elders. Because I’ve always been a very family-oriented person, moving to the UK and living with my extended family felt natural. Today, I am grateful for the opportunity to look after my in-laws.
How long have you worked for our Trust?
With 10 years of experience in the NHS, I have developed my career by moving from an initial role as a Ward Clerk to my current position.
What motivates or inspires you day to day? Anything in particular about your role?
My daily motivation is simple: helping people. This was a core value I have learned from my family, and it’s what has driven my 10-year career in the NHS. In my role, I am inspired by the fact that I play a part in a system that looks after people when they are at their most vulnerable. Seeing the difference, we make, and being part of a dedicated team is what gets me up in the morning.
How do you pass on cultural values, lessons, and traditions to your family and those around you?
For me, passing on my values is a very natural process, woven into the fabric of our daily lives. I try to create the same warm, family-oriented environment that I was raised in. When we all live together as an extended family, the lessons of sharing, patience, and mutual respect are learned through daily interactions. By continuing the tradition of looking after my in-laws, I am passing on the most important lesson my grandparents ever taught me, that family is our foundation. I believe these values are absorbed more deeply through lived experience than they could ever be through words alone.
Can you highlight an influential figure from South Asian communities whose journey has inspired you and you would want to make sure everyone knows about.
A figure from the South Asian community who has truly inspired me is Bhagat Puran Singh. He founded Pingalwara, a home for the needy in Punjab, and his life was a masterclass in selfless service.
His story resonates with me because it’s a grand-scale version of the values my grandparents instilled in me, o care for the vulnerable and respect every human being. He dedicated himself completely to others, which is the same spirit of service that motivates me in my role at the NHS and in my family life. He is a hero whose legacy of compassion and humanity deserves to be known by everyone.