Filipino nurses mark 20th anniversary caring for Peterborough patients

Nurses from the Philippines have marked 20 years since they came to Peterborough to care for patients in the city.
Angelo CuencaAngelo Cuenca
Angelo Cuenca

Back in November 2000, 36 nurses made the long journey from the Philippines to the cold and frosty UK to start a new life. Now, two decades later, 10 of that original group still work at Peterborough City Hospital and are key members of the local Filipino community, which has since grown considerably as more nurses followed their path in the years to come.

Angelo Cuenca, Macmillan Radiotherapy Nurse Specialist at Peterborough City Hospital, was just 23 when he arrived in the city with his girlfriend (now wife) who took up a post in Surrey.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: “Most of my family were taken with the American dream and aspired to relocate there, but I was always attracted to the European culture. When nursing opportunities became available in the UK it was an easy decision for us to make. It felt daunting, yet exciting. I can remember my first few days like it was yesterday! There were a few ups and downs and lots to adapt to, such as the food, the climate and finding our way around. We had excellent support from the recruitment, management and nursing team. We also had a separate welcome party from the core Filipino community living in Peterborough and nearby.

“I started on Ward 3 at Edith Cavell Hospital, where I felt accepted, loved and cared for. Any worries I had quickly disappeared thanks to the team, so I could concentrate on doing what’s best for our patients.

“Peterborough feels like home now. My wife and I were married here, our children were born here and as a family we are active in our local church, school and community. The strength of the local Filipino community and the support of my work colleagues has really made it feel like home.”

Jack Stevens, Deputy Chief Nurse at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Peterborough City, Hinchingbrooke and Stamford and Rutland Hospitals, said: “We are hugely indebted to our Filipino nursing recruits for the excellent care and support they have provided for our patients since the year 2000.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Thank you to all our staff from the Philippines for their dedication to the NHS. It cannot be easy to leave family and friends thousands of miles away to follow their professional dream. It’s an honour to know they call Peterborough ‘home’ and have made their lives here.”

Sadly, the Filipino recruits have had their plans to celebrate their 20 years in Peterborough postponed by lockdown restrictions, but will revisit plans to mark the milestone as soon as they can.