Irish Nurses in the NHS

Perception of Irish Nurses Working in Britain

Listen on

Episode notes

IN THIS EPISODE, WE HEAR WHY IRISH NURSES WERE PERCEIVED AS THE STEADFAST EMBODIMENT OF THE CARING PROFESSION THAT WAS AT THE HEART OF BRITAIN’S NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE

DURING THE 19TH AND 20TH CENTURIES, SWADES OF IRISH-BORN CITIZENS TRAVELLED ACROSS THE SEA TO FIND OPPORTUNITY IN BRITAIN. WHILE MANY DEPICTIONS OF IRISH MIGRANTS WERE DEROGATORY, THE FIGURE OF THE IRISH NURSE REMAINS ESTEEMED. HARDWORKING AND FRIENDLY, IRISH NURSES WERE OFTEN WELL-RECEIVED.

 

IRISH FAMILIES IN THE 1950s 1960s AND 1970s WERE GENERALLY LARGER THAN TODAY, SO IT WASN’T UNUSUAL TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE NURSE IN THE IRISH FAMILY UNIT.

HOWEVER, LACK OF EMPLOYMENT AND DIFFICULTY IN GETTING A NURSE TRAINING PLACE IN IRELAND DROVE MANY YOUNG WOMEN & MEN ACROSS THE IRISH SEA AND INTO THE ARMS OF BRITAIN’S NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE

 

WE ARE NOW AT THE HALF WAY POINT IN THE IRISH NURSES IN THE NHS STORY WHERE WE ARE FOLLOWING THE TRAJECTORY OF THE LIVES OF THESE NURSES, HOW THEY WERE RECRUITED INTO THE NHS, LEAVING HOME, STORIES OF LIFE IN THE NURSES HOME, THE UNIFORM, NURSE TRAINING, THE WARDS & PATIENTS.

BUT HOW WERE THEY PERCEIVED AS IRISH NURSES IN BRITAIN? WHAT WAS THE X FACTOR THAT HELPED TO CREATE THE IMAGE OF THE IRISH NURSE AS INDEFATIGABLE?

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.