A British Council worker helps a West Indian immigrant along the platform at Victoria Station, 9 June 1956

I am proud to be associated with this book. Many rivers to cross shows how people from the Caribbean made an enormous and vital contribution to the NHS in its early days and subsequently. The individual stories told in this book bear testament not only to the determination and professionalism of the Windrush generation, but also to their resolve to succeed in another country and to tackle and overcome whatever discrimination came their way.
Reading this book makes me more determined than ever to ensure that the NHS continues to strive to be a world-class service. A service that can be readily accessed by individuals from all communities, who can expect fast and fair services appropriate to their individual needs. A service that treats its workforce with dignity and respect, where people from whatever background can develop and progress in their chosen career. A service to be proud of.

Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt MP
Secretary of State for Health

May 2006

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