Delighted to hear that the winning poem from the Poems for Doctors 2019 online slam, Flexor Digitorum by Rumaisa Zubairi has been accepted for publication in the new NHS anthology These Are the Hands. You can listen to Rumaisa reading the poem on Soundcloud.
The title of the anthology is from Michael Rosen’s poem written in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the NHS in 2008. There are a few video readings online, including one in our own collection at Poems for Doctors, and of course Michael Rosen performing the poem himself.
The aim of the new anthology is to give a voice to, and reflect the experiences of NHS staff. It celebrates their creativity and talent, while at the same time raising money to support the NHS. You can read more about it at the Bigger Picture, a project conceived by a Royal College of GPs working group looking at ways to address the crisis in doctors’ wellbeing. Quote:
“It felt important … to look beyond the constraints of our medical training and work, at ways in which we can reflect on our own and our patients’ experiences, start to care more for ourselves and each other and also reconnect with our creativity and compassion. Key to this project is collaboration with other organisations and a wider perspective including the arts and humanities.” The Bigger Picture
Congratulations to Rumaisa on being included in the new NHS anthology! – We’re looking forward to ordering copies.
