Film Production on Caribbean and Africa Healthcare Workers
Share Your Healthcare Stories
A brief history: African & Caribbean pillars of the NHS: The story of the NHS is in many ways entwined with migration, colonial history, and the contributions of people from Africa and the the Caribbean. At the birth of the NHS in 1948, the service faced significant staff shortages. To fill these gaps, the Ministries of Health and Labour, the Colonial Office, nursing councils, and hospital managers actively recruited nurses, auxiliary staff, and domestic workers from Caribbean countries.
By 1965, there were thousands of Caribbean nurses working in British hospitals — for example, estimates suggest 5,000 Caribbean (mostly Jamaican) women were on the NHS payroll by that time. Recruitment continued into the 1970s and beyond. By 1977, 66% of overseas nurses and midwives in the UK were from the Caribbean. These health workers were crucial not just for staffing, but for making the NHS function at scale — in wards, clinics, hospitals, and community health settings. Challenges, discrimination, and barriers: Their contributions were not without struggle:
Many Caribbean and African health workers faced discrimination in promotion, pay, and career development. Some came with expectations of returning home, but stayed and built lives in the UK. Others faced cultural and social isolation. Historical accounts note that many institutional histories of the NHS have largely omitted or marginalized migrant stories. Our Pioneers and trailblazers:
Daphne Steele: Born in British Guiana (now Guyana), she became the first Black matron in the NHS (appointed in 1964).
Louise Da-Cocodia: Moved to the UK in 1955 to train as a nurse; she later became the first Black senior nursing officer in Manchester and was active in anti-racism work.
Nola Ishmael: Barbadian-born nurse, she became the first Black or minority-ethnic Director of Nursing in London.
Tryphena Anderson: Jamaican-born, she became the UK’s first Black health visitor.
Dr Harold Moody: Although his major work preceded the NHS, he is notable as a Jamaican-born physician who, after facing racial barriers in professional life, founded the League of Coloured Peoples and provided freely for underserved patients.
These individuals are part of a broader tapestry of hundreds of thousands who gave care, stability, leadership, and continuity to the NHS over generations.
Why this matters today? The NHS remains heavily dependent on overseas-trained staff, including many from African and Caribbean backgrounds. Recognising and honouring these contributions is part of building a more inclusive, honest, and equitable history. Collecting personal stories helps fill gaps in the official narrative, giving voice to lived experience — the pride, the struggle, the innovations, the day-to-day work. Donations and institutional support help to preserve and amplify these stories.
How you can help / get involved? Contact contact@caribbeanglobalinstitute.com
Share your story or someone else’s — personal accounts, photos, letters, recollections. #NHS #nhsengland
Caribbean Global Institute Meeting
Inaugural Meeting Caribbean Global Institute - Business and Trade Association
Please help us spread the word! 🌍
👋We are inviting you to share this opportunity within your networks — universities, professional groups, and other organisations that may wish to get involved.
The Caribbean Global Institute (CGI) is a dynamic diaspora-led organisation dedicated to research, innovation, and capacity building across the Caribbean and its global communities. CGI works to bridge knowledge, culture, and collaboration by connecting professionals, educators, and institutions committed to advancing Caribbean excellence worldwide.
📅 Inaugural Meeting: 21 October 2025 (Online)
🕗 Time: 20:00 GMT
👉 Register here: https://lnkd.in/e2b5h_Ta
Let’s unite to strengthen collaboration, leadership, and visibility across the Caribbean diaspora. #Diaspora #Unity
#CaribbeanGlobalAwards #SupportTheFilm #Caribbean #CaribbeanGlobalInstitute
