Between two worlds book launch
Published: 22 January 2009
A retired nurse who left the West Indies to start a new life and career in the UK in the NHS as a trainee nurse in 1950s Britain has written a book about her career and experiences.
RCN headquarters hosted the official launch of Shirla Philogene’s fascinating book, Between Two Worlds, attended by family, friends and dignitries.
“In the 50s and 60s we were recruited from the Caribbean to be trained - I wrote this book because I felt this part of nursing history was not documented anywhere. When I began scribbling, it all came back to me as if it were yesterday” said Shirla.
The book charts her career through hospital nursing, community midwifery and health visiting to becoming a community health manager and policy advisor in the Nursing Division of the Department of Health. Filled with honest accounts of her experience of ‘the old NHS’ with scary matrons, racial incidents and her adjustment to cold, grey mornings, the book is a nostalgic look back at how things used to be done in the NHS.
RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, Dr Peter Carter, said at the launch:
“This is a beautifully written, poignant, thought provoking, wonderful piece of social history… Shirla is a credit to her country and an absolute credit to nursing.”
Between Two Worlds – A Narrative is published by Authorhouse at £10.99 (paperwork) and £21.49 (hardback). ISBN 978-1-4389-1155-7.