Japanese Red Cross Nurses annual visit to Plymouth

A group of Japanese student nurses from the Red Cross Toyota College of Nursing are in Plymouth this month for their annual trip to the UK.  During their three week stay they will tour various medical institutions around the city to learn about healthcare provision in the UK, and also soak up the sights and sounds of the local area.

Whilst in Plymouth the students live with local families, take English lessons in local language school Mayflower College, and visit medical institutions and local attractions throughout their trip.  The idea is to provide the nurses with a full picture of life in England, and to aid their broader understanding of UK culture.

Their experienced leader, Hisako Mori, has been returning to Plymouth every year with groups of nurses for 9 years.  She says that Japan always looks to the UK for leading the way in healthcare, and that Plymouth as a particular appeal.

Across the duration of their visit the students will visit numerous locations including Peverell Park Surgery, Plymouth University, Plymouth Red Cross, Cann House, Derriford Hospital and the RNLI.  They will find out more about the roles of health care assistants and registered nurses, and see several ‘live’ demonstrations.

Outside of their medical-themed excursions they will also visit several cultural places of interest including Dartmoor, Lanhydrock House and the nearby city of Exeter.  By the end of their visit, it is hoped they will have gained valuable insights not just into how healthcare provision is delivered in the UK, but also into how life is lived here, and in Plymouth particularly.

Why they come back to Plymouth? What’s important about Plymouth?

Plymouth is not as busy as London or other big cities and people are nice and friendly.  They show tolerant attitudes to our students who have very limited knowledge about the culture and the language skills.  Also, we can heavily rely on the language school, Mayflower College, on the Hoe that helps us to organise the programme.　

In today’s environment in Japan, nurses have to become more internationally minded, not only linguistically but also culturally, because there is a big possibility for them to take care of foreign patients in the hospital or to be sent abroad as a Red Cross nurse in a disaster relief squad.