NHS recovery hospital for COVID-19 patients named after Mary Seacole

Jamaican-born nurse played a pivotal role in the emergency response of the Crimean War

PIONEER: A lost painted portrait of Mary Seacole by obscure London artist Albert Challen dating from 1869 Photo credit: Johnny Green/PA

A REHABILITATION centre for patients recovering from Covid-19 has been named after the pioneering nurse Mary Seacole.

The NHS Seacole is the first of its kind in England, and will dedicate its service to the fight against the pandemic. Based in Leatherhead, Surrey, the temporary hospital has around 300 in-patient beds.

It is hoped NHS Seacole will help ease pressure on nearby hospitals allowing more capacity to treat those in need of urgent and emergency care for Covid-19.

Established

Mary Seacole was a Jamaican-born nurse and a heroine of the Crimean War. There she established the British Hotel to provide “a mess-table and comfortable quarters for sick and convalescent officers”, as well as working on the battlefield to nurse wounded soldiers.

“It is great that Mary Seacole, famous for battling disease and pioneering community rehabilitation, is being recognised.”

Trevor Stirling, Chair of Mary Seacole Trust

As a woman of mixed race in the 19th century, Ms Seacole and her family had few civil rights and faced racism throughout their lifetime, however she overcame the prejudice to become the highly-regarded “Mother Seacole”.

The NHS said it had dedicated the new community hospital to Ms Seacole to pay tribute to the BAME nurses and staff at the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the NHS Seacole served as a tribute of the “extraordinary work” of the nurse, as well as the “compassion and dedication” of the NHS.

Decision

The Mary Seacole Trust has welcomed the decision describing it as a reminder of the contributions made by healthcare workers from different backgrounds.

Chair Trevor Sterling added: “The coronavirus is the biggest challenge to our country and our population in living memory. 

“It is great that Mary Seacole, famous for battling disease and pioneering community rehabilitation, is being recognised in our country’s response to the virus”.

Comments Form

5 Comments

  1. | Veronica Dapaah

    At last Mary Seacole has been recognised
    Pity it took all these years for her kindness and hard work to be acknowledge . Thanks to Corvid 19 you have done justice to Mary and her family.

    Reply

  2. | sabina Gaspard

    Mary Seacole deserves to be recognise and recognition for her work

    Reply

  3. | Joan Sinclair

    The naming of one of the newly built hospitals to ease the pressure off the NHS hospitals which are doing their best to overcome covid19,is highly welcomed.
    Mary Seacole, as we know, sacrificially like many of the BAME workers in the NHS pioneered at the front of the hospitals caring for wounded soldiers under trying times.
    The naming of this hospital as Mary Seacole should not go unnoticed, but should be celebrated as an achievement, recognition and respect of the work she did during the war.

    Reply

  4. | Sonia Singhota

    It’s a great step to respect human race no matter what colour they are. Thanks

    Reply

  5. | Pru Kambasha

    It’s a shame that her recognition is only temporary

    Reply

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