Migrant Architects of the NHS

2018 book by Julian M. Simpson

Migrant Architects of the NHS: South Asian Doctors and the Reinvention of British General Practice (1940s–1980s)

Author| Julian M. Simpson
Language| English
Series| Social Histories of Medicine
Subject| South Asian migrant doctors
Genre| History
Publisher| Manchester University Press

Publication date

| 2018
Publication place| United Kingdom
Pages| 336
ISBN| 978-1-7849-9130-2

Migrant Architects of the NHS: South Asian Doctors and the Reinvention of British General Practice (1940s–1980s), written by Julian M. Simpson, and published by Manchester University Press in 2018, is a book which combines archival research, images and interviews to tell the story of the physicians who immigrated to Britain from South Asia and became general practitioners (GPs) during the first four decades of Britain's National Health Service (NHS).

The research in the book is the basis of an exhibition on migrant doctors at the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), London, the opening of which also marked the launch of the book.

## Content

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The book combines archival research, images and interviews to tell the story of the physicians who immigrated to Britain from South Asia and entered general practice[1] during the first four decades of the National Health Service.[2][3] It focuses on physicians from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.[4]

Intended for students and academic researchers with an interest in the history of migration, South Asian studies, oral history and the history of medicine, the book is also of interest to those curious about the links between the British Empire and medical migration.[3]

The book sets out to write the history of migration and empire back into the mainstream of British history. It does so by looking at the history of a "typically British" institution: the National Health Service. Migrant Architects' central argument is that the NHS in its first forty years was built around general practice and that general practice was fundamentally dependent on, and shaped by, medical migration from the Indian subcontinent. Simpson also argues that as South Asian doctors were hugely over-represented in the working class parts of Britain (accounting for 30–50% of GPs in many inner city and industrial areas) they were key to the NHS being able to deliver its core mission of helping the most vulnerable populations.[5]

The book concludes with a call for more histories of how migration and empire shaped Britain, with a view to using these new accounts to directly engage in contemporary political debates around migration.[5]

## Launch

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Migrant Architects of the NHS was officially launched at an exhibition based on the research done for the book, at the RCGP on 25 April 2018[5] in the presence of the chief executive of NHS England, Simon Stevens and RCGP president professor Mayur Lakhani.[6] Both paid tribute to South Asian doctors on the occasion of the approaching 70th anniversary of the NHS.[1][7]

Taking up positions in some of the most deprived regions of Britain between 1940 and the 1980s, South Asian GPs were praised by Lakhani as "highly-valued"[4] colleagues of the communities in which they practised.[4]

## Reception

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The book received international press coverage, particularly in the former British colonies in South Asia from where many doctors moved to work in Britain:

* Bangladesh's newspapers, Bangla Tribune and the Dhaka Tribune, both reported on the book and its launch in April 2018.[8][9][citation needed]
* In India, the Hindustan Times reported on the exhibition and book, commenting that "Indian doctors who worked for it [the NHS] over the decades are being hailed not only for their contribution but for their central role in its development".[10]
* In Sri Lanka, the Sunday Times of Sri Lanka noted the role that physicians from South Asia played in making the British primary care system.[11]
* In New Zealand, Virginia McMillan, correspondent for the New Zealand Doctor, accidentally came across Simpson's research on a visit to London, and responded with a parallel narrative of an Indian physician, Sadanand Hegde, who migrated to New Zealand and practiced there as a GP for over thirty-five years.[12]
* The inclusion of physicians such as Liverpool's Shiv Pande in the book was welcomed by local politician Richard Kemp.[13]

## References

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1. ^ a b "Migrants who made the NHS: College pays tribute to GPs who served patients – and the profession – during difficult times in the history of general practice". www.rcgp.org.uk. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
2. ^ "Julian Simpson". www.ohs.org.uk. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
3. ^ a b "Manchester University Press – Migrant architects of the NHS". Manchester University Press. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
4. ^ a b c "RCGP exhibition highlights contribution of South Asian GPs". Pulse Today. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
5. ^ a b c "Reclaiming the history of the NHS's migrant workforce – Manchester University Press". Manchester University Press. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
6. ^ "South Asian doctors lifeblood of early NHS, says historian". Warrington Guardian. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
7. ^ "70th Anniversary NHS, the huge contribution made by overseas doctors" (PDF). The Journal of the British International Doctors' Association Issue. 24: 21. 2 June 2018.
8. ^ "UK celebrates Bangladeshi doctors' contribution | banglatribune.com". Bangla Tribune. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
9. ^ "Britain celebrates contribution of Bangladeshi doctors". Dhaka Tribune. 26 April 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
10. ^ "Indian doctors seen as architects, lifeblood of Britain's National Health Service". 26 April 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
11. ^ "How thousands of South Asian doctors helped keep the NHS afloat". www.sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
12. ^ "A London digression: Duty done, despite having the wrong accent". New Zealand Doctor. 17 June 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
13. ^ "The debt that the NHS and the Country owes to immigrants". But what does Richard Kemp think?. 5 August 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.

## External links

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* Interview with Julian M. Simpson, 5 July 2018, BBC