Produced by Serena, Education Administration Apprentice in the School of Oncology
Today we remember and celebrate Black British women of the NHS and those who came before.
We are all familiar with the Windrush, particularly the atrocities that came to surface in the last few years under Theresa May and the ‘Hostile Environment’ act. There is a common misconception that those who came on the Windrush were the first people of colour to ever step foot in the UK.
Whilst it is true that these individuals were asked to come and help rebuild post-war Britain; many men worked as bus and train conductors, whilst many women came and worked in the premature NHS as nurses and midwives. However, there were women nursing in the UK before the Windrush arrival and the NHS – Dzagbele Matilda Asante – was one of them.
Born in Ghana in 1927, Dzagbele recalls completing her Nurse training in North-West London and subsequently completed her midwifery qualification. She remembers the rife racism that she experienced; one patient refused to be prepared for theatre by her because she was an African nurse. These perpetual experiences did not stop Dzagbele from continuing to provide impeccable care to the women and babies. At the golden age of 93, she is still involved in the health service – mothers and young children continue to meet weekly for health meetings in her home.
There are many amazing women I could talk about, but we would be here forever. I chose to summarise Dzagbele’s experiences because it breaks the narrative of Black people being here only after the arrival of the Windrush.
Further reading:
Dzagbele Matilda Asante – I Was Nursing In The UK Before Windrush And The NHS
NHS at 70: Valuing the rich history of black and minority ethnic staff