“Being the real you is something money can’t buy.”

Romford Recorder: Angel Toledo relocated from the Philippines for a job at BHRUT. Picture: BHRUTAngel Toledo relocated from the Philippines for a job at BHRUT. Picture: BHRUT (Image: BHRUT)

So says Angel Toledo, a transgender nurse Angel at Queen’s Hospital, Romford.

Angel first worked as a nurse in the Philippines where she was forced to wear a male uniform and cut her hair short. She applied for a job at the Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals Trust (BHRUT) after she was forced to relocate in order to send money back to her mother who battling cancer.

Now settled in Romford, she has found a silver lining to leaving her home country, with colleagues being very welcoming and accepting of her.

The 28-year-old said: “Back home, living as a trans person is not so easy and I felt I had to sacrifice who I was to do a job I loved.

“That’s why I was so happy to come and work at our trust – I’ve felt comfortable and accepted right from the beginning.

“Even during the interview process, I was accepted and able to wear a dress and make-up – I was so overwhelmed I cried!

“It was surreal coming here and getting a female uniform and being able to have long hair. It was amazing.

“Back before I began transitioning, I didn’t look in the mirror much. Now when I do, I see the person I really am – it’s something money can’t buy, it’s being you.”

Angel explained that Pride Month is very important to her as it a chance to celebrate her achievements, no matter her gender.

She added: “I worked hard in my nurse training and was proud when I graduated with honours. I earned it so gender should never be an issue.

“Pride Month is really important to me as it’s a reminder to love who you are, and do what you love. Everyone performs best when they are comfortable in who they are. Not everyone who I work with knows I am trans, so I share it with them as I am proud of it. To work in such a diverse, accepting trust is a dream come true for me.”

Raised by her mother as a single parent, Angel and her mum were extremely close and sadly, she died before Angel joined BHRUT in January this year. Despite it being highly emotional for her, Angel continued with the move to honour her.

Just weeks into her role at the trust, Angel became a TV star when she took part in the BBC series, Saving our Nurses.

The five-part programme, which aired earlier this month on BBC One, focused on the trust’s trailblazing senior intern team, and the support they give to new nurses, including those arriving from the Philippines.

Angel said: “Being part of it was such a huge privilege for me. I never thought I would be able to share my story like that. I hope to inspire others, and make everyone remember why equality is so important.

“I’m so proud to work at our trust, so it was really exciting to be part of the series, to be filmed, and then to see myself on TV.”

You can catch Angel’s episode of Saving our Nurses on BBC iPlayer.