HMT Empire Windrush arrived at Tilbury Docks on 22 June 1948, bringing with it several hundred passengers from across the British colonies in the Caribbean.
The arrival of the ship and its passengers is often seen as the start of a wave of migration from the West Indies to the UK. The Windrush generation helped Britain recover from the impact of the Second World War, filling jobs in the postal and transport systems, as well as the newly founded NHS.
The Windrush generation and their descendants have played a vital role in the running and development of the health and social care system. Despite this contribution, NHS staff surveys repeatedly show that real progress isn’t being made in diversity and inclusion.
As part of our work for the Windrush anniversary, we’ve heard from Caribbean NHS staff experiencing barriers to career progression, access to training and development and discrimination. Explore more of this history through the articles, online resources and publications featured on this page.
You called and we came: Windrush and the NHSHear stories from the Windrush generation and their descendants on their experiences of working in the NHS in our online exhibition.
Hear stories from the Windrush generation and their descendants on their experiences of working in the NHS in our online exhibition.
Acting with intent: Chief Nurse, Karen Bonner, on diversity and belonging in the NHSHow can we ensure that health and care staff from all backgrounds feel respected, valued and listened to at work? Siva Anandaciva sits down with Karen Bonner, Chief Nurse.
How can we ensure that health and care staff from all backgrounds feel respected, valued and listened to at work? Siva Anandaciva sits down with Karen Bonner, Chief Nurse.
Blog: How it started... how it's goingShilpa Ross considers the experiences of staff from ethnic minority groups in the newly formed NHS and the NHS of today and asks why, in the intervening years, so little has changed.
Shilpa Ross considers the experiences of staff from ethnic minority groups in the newly formed NHS and the NHS of today and asks why, in the intervening years, so little has changed.
Windrush 75: reflecting on the contributions of generations to the NHS
Additionally, to mark 75th anniversary of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush, Sally Warren and other panelists celebrated the significant contribution Caribbean and Ethnic Minority staff make to the health and care system.
Watch the online event below to explore:
- the persistent trends in the lived experience of working in the NHS of the Windrush generations and their descendants
- the disproportionate disparities in employment and working conditions faced by black, Asian and ethnic minority staff
- the UK’s continued heavy reliance on international recruitment to plug health and care workforce gaps.
Celebrating 75 years: social care, the NHS and Windrush
75 years of social careThe National Assistance Act came into force in 1943, marking the start of the social care system as we know it. Through a blog series and podcast episode, we examine the history of social care and the challenges it's facing today.
The National Assistance Act came into force in 1943, marking the start of the social care system as we know it. Through a blog series and podcast episode, we examine the history of social care and the challenges it's facing today.
