Overview
From the inception of the National Health Service (NHS) in 1948, Irish women and men were actively recruited to train and work as nurses in British hospitals. By the 1960s approximately 30,000 Irish-born nurses were working across the NHS, constituting around 12% of all nursing staff. While many Irish families produced at least one nurse and many of those emigrated, so far there has been little recognition of the enormous contribution of Irish nurses to health care in Britain. Based on 45 interviews, this book tells the stories of Irish nurses in their own words using rich oral history and photographs. From the rigours of training to the fun of dancehalls, the book explores their life experiences as nurses and also as Irish migrants in British society.
Full Product Details
Publisher: Four Courts Press Ltd
Imprint: Four Courts Press Ltd
ISBN: 9781801511636
ISBN 10: 1801511632
Pages: 232
Publication Date: 31 January 2025
Audience:
General/trade
,
General
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: In Print

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Author Information
Louise Ryan is a senior professor of Sociology and director of the Global Diversities and Inequalities research centre, London Metropolitan University, and has extensively researched Irish migration to Britain. Gra inne McPolin is a radio producer and podcaster. She is a former nurse having spent many years of her career working in Britain's National Health Service hospitals. Neha Doshi is a PhD researcher and Associate Lecturer at London Metropolitan University. Her research focuses on race and media.