The Cherry Room: Our new medical room inspired by one of Britain鈥檚 first deaf nurses
Northern Counties School were thrilled to welcome the inspirational Helen Cherry and unveil the new room named in her honour.
The Cherry Room has been thoughtfully designed to replicate a real medical setting, helping students become familiar with healthcare environments like hospitals and doctors’ surgeries. With features such as a hospital bed, toy stethoscopes, and medical equipment, the space offers an interactive and engaging experience that helps pupils feel more at ease in real-life clinical settings.
When it came to naming the room, Lindsay Elliott, our Specialist School Nurse, was inspired by the remarkable story of Helen Cherry – one of the first deaf nurses in the NHS. Helen began her nursing journey in 1977, despite being told as a child by her audiologist that the NHS would never accept a deaf nurse. Defying the odds, she went on to have an extraordinary international nursing career, even working in Australia.
To mark the opening of the Cherry Room, students gave Helen a warm welcome with a moving performance of 鈥�This Is Me鈥� by our BSL Choir. Helen then took part in a Q&A session with students, sharing insights from her trailblazing career before officially cutting the ribbon to open the Cherry Room.
Students joined Helen in the Cherry Room, playing with the medical equipment and pretending to be doctors and nurses.
One of our learners, Ruby, shared her dream of becoming a nurse who supports young children with disabilities. She said that Helen’s story was “inspiring.”
BBC Look North joined us to capture this unforgettable event. Watch the video to learn more!
Thank you to Helen Cherry and her husband for travelling all the way from London to join us for this special day. We loved showing her the impact her inspirational career has had on our learners and welcoming them into our school.