Stories

2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the NHS, yet its promise of universal care is complicated by the realities of racism, silencing, and sacrifice that Black healthcare workers face. In the wake of a record-breaking nurses’ strike for a liveable wage, a formal National Inquiry into the government’s response to COVID-19 is set to begin in the spring of 2023. Working on the frontline of the NHS during the ongoing pandemic, Black doctors and nurses offer vital insight into the challenges, courage, community, and care that emerged out of crisis. In these stories, you hear the voices of these healthcare workers, gaining reflective insight into their experiences on the frontlines throughout the pandemic.

To protect their identities, each narrator was given a pseudonym. This protection is crucial to ensure each narrator can share the full truth of their lived experience. It is also crucial due to the repercussions that Black healthcare workers face when they speak up about experiencing issues of discrimination. Each narrator is also listed with their medical specialty. To listen to a story, click on a narrator’s name.