ABOUT

The National Health Service (NHS) is one of the largest single employers in the UK and has had a diverse workforce since its early years.

 

The Newham Chinese Association received a National Heritage Fund grant of £67,150 in mid-September 2023, enabling us to launch an exciting year-long project. This marks the beginning of the "Malaysian Angels of the NHS" heritage project. 

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The project has recorded 21 oral histories from Malaysian nurses, documenting their valuable contributions to the NHS. From the reminiscence sessions and word of mouth, we have reached over 100 Malaysian nurses or their children, whether they are in the UK or abroad. These stories are part of this groundbreaking project, which addresses an important segment of UK social history that has never been formally documented. 

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The project brings together four organisations, Newham Chinese Association, Malaysian Chinese Lunch Club, Eastside Community Heritage and True Heart Theatre working in partnership to co-design and produce a bilingual exhibition and booklet for display at Newham University Hospital, Bryant Street Methodist Community Centre, St Mark’s Community Centre and Newham Libraries.

 

The project also features a theatre piece, a video, and this website and trained volunteers in various skills to support project delivery. 

 

This project seeks to bring pride and recognition to the often-overlooked Malaysian nurses and to celebrate their enormous contributions to the NHS since the 1950s.