From the U.K. to East York: Nurses look back on transatlantic journey to MGH 30 years later

By Lucy Lau

Sarah Coppinger interviewed for a nursing position at Michael Garron Hospital (MGH) — then known as Toronto East General Hospital — more than three decades ago. But there’s a moment from that meeting that stands out to her to this day.

“The interviewer said we’d be able to walk to the beach from the hospital at lunchtime, which wasn't entirely accurate,” Sarah recalls with a laugh.

Denise Layton remembers receiving a similar pitch. “They told us we’d be able to see Lake Ontario from the hospital window,” she says. “But they didn’t tell us we’d have to be on the top floor to see it.”

Sarah and Denise wouldn’t know the extent to which MGH’s proximity to water had been slightly exaggerated until several months later when they arrived in Toronto.

The pair relocated to Canada from the U.K. in 1989 as part of a recruitment effort by Ontario hospitals to address a shortage of nurses. MGH was seeking nurses to work in intensive care in particular and offered training for those who would be interested in relocating to Toronto for a year.

Sarah and Denise, nurses in Bristol and Glasgow at the time, respectively, spotted an ad promoting the positions in a nursing journal. Shortly after, they attended interviews with two representatives from MGH who had travelled to the U.K. and Ireland for the recruiting initiative.

The interviews were held in hotel rooms, where it wasn't uncommon for recruiters and interviewees to be sitting side by side during the process.

“The interviewers shared things like how wonderful MGH was and what the cost of living was like in Toronto,” Denise recalls. “It seemed like an incredible opportunity.”

Sarah and Denise were intrigued by the chance to travel to and experience anther country while working there. They were among some 80 nurses from the U.K. and Ireland who moved to Toronto to work at MGH during this time.

Both settled in East York and almost immediately began their roles at the hospital. “I remember it like it was yesterday,” Denise says. “When I arrived at Pearson airport, the human resources recruiter from MGH was standing in the arrivals area with a sign that read 'Toronto East General Hospital' on one side and 'Welcome' on the other.”

Sarah and Denise completed a critical care nursing program and began working at MGH in time for the opening of the new intensive care units in the J-wing.

Sarah worked in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU), while Denise started in the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) and Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) which was a newly combined unit at the time.

“Those early days were tough. It's not easy being a new immigrant without family around for support,” says Denise. “But my colleagues became friends who became like family. That's one of the things that has kept me here.”

Both only expected to stay in Canada for one year (“I was actually supposed to meet my sister in New Zealand after,” Sarah says), but life — and work — had other plans for them.

“Those early days were tough. It's not easy being a new immigrant without family around for support,” says Denise. “But my colleagues became friends who became like family. That's one of the things that has kept me here.”

“When you walk through the doors here, it’s a community. I’ve never felt that at any other hospital,” Sarah adds. “I actually ended up having my first child at MGH and when my colleagues in the ICU found out I had given birth, they were traipsing up to my room as soon as they could to see him.”

As fellow Brits working at MGH, Sarah and Denise often crossed paths at the hospital. “Denise worked in the CCU and I worked in the ICU initially, so there was a bit of a rivalry there,” Sarah jokes.

Today, they continue to work together in some capacity in their roles in Patient Relations and Quality and Safety. Sarah is the manager of patient relations at MGH, which means she’s responsible for ensuring the patient voice is considered at all levels of care, resulting in safe, optimal health outcomes.

Denise, meanwhile, now works in MGH’s Quality and Safety unit as the information, privacy and compliance officer, which involves ensuring all staff, physicians and volunteers are protecting confidential patient information and complying with the province's privacy laws.

“Patient safety has always been hugely important to me in the variety of roles I've had at MGH over the years,” Denise says.

As Sarah and Denise reflect on their time at MGH — both are celebrating 30 years at the hospital and were recognized in the Long Service Awards — they say they have fond memories of their time on the frontlines and the relationships they’ve built with their colleagues and patients over the years.

Both have also raised families in East Toronto. Like Sarah, Denise gave birth to her kids at MGH.

“I've always loved what I do and I love East York,” Denise says. “This is my home away from home. Both my children were born here and immediately received into my work family. They've grown up here and there is nowhere else I've ever considered going.”

The two have spent the majority of their careers at MGH and are proud to have contributed to its excellence in people-centred care. “My son played lacrosse, so he’s been a regular visitor to MGH’s Emergency Department,” Sarah says.

They typically spend their free time with the colleagues they now call family. From time to time, Sarah considers testing the selling point she was initially pitched of MGH being walking distance from a warm, sandy beach.

“Maybe if we had two hours for lunch,” she says. “Who knows?”