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The creation of the National Health Service (NHS) and the docking of the Empire Windrush both occurred in 1948. It is important to understand the two events together in order to appreciate how their combined histories impacted Britain. #phstmu /1
The anniversaries are usually commemorated separately as though they have no connection. In fact, many Caribbean immigrants onboard the Windrush made the journey to Britain with plans to work for the NHS. /2
They answered Britain’s call to help fill vacancies for the newly established organization, eventually making up a large part of its workforce. A few of the Windrush nurses recently reflected on whether they’d be compelled to return to the NHS to help during the pandemic. /3
Judy Alleyne, a retired nurse, said that she would return to the NHS if she wasn’t considered to be at-risk due to her age. She would put her feelings about the Windrush scandal aside to help patients and support fellow healthcare workers. (
: http://huffingtonpost.co.uk ) /4
: http://huffingtonpost.co.uk ) /4
Judy emphasized that she would not return for the government’s sake. After all it was the government who made her fearful of getting deported after living in the country legally for 49 years. She hastened to get naturalized to prevent being separated from her family. /5
While some Windrush nurses would return to the NHS, others like Joanne Cohen vow never to return. The government informed her that she was in the country illegally even though she became a naturalized citizen in 2002. The ordeal took a toll on her physical and mental health. /6
Although Joanne was personally affected by the scandal, this isn’t the reason behind her hesitation to return to the NHS. It’s due to the racism she experienced during her career as a nurse. She was discriminated against & treated differently than her white counterparts. /7
Another former nurse, Alina Wallace, is glad that healthcare workers in general are currently receiving recognition. However, she believes that there’s still a lack of visibility & acknowledgement of the contributions Black nurses & healthcare practitioners brought to the NHS. /8
Journalist Gary Younge echoes this sentiment by pointing out a contradiction: “The institution that we value the most has been sustained by people whom we value the least.” Many people agree with his claim that the NHS would not have survived had it not been for immigrants. /9
The Windrush generation & other immigrants are underappreciated for the contributions they bring to their communities. Younge believes that creating more humane & less hostile environments for immigrants benefits everyone. Our health literally depends on it. /10
