The Ards Peninsula is one of the most beautiful regions of Northern Ireland. It’s a traditional Ulster-Scots heartland rich in heritage, culture and language, where generations of families have deep-rooted links to land and sea.
The Peninsula Nurses, a new two-part series for BBC One Northern Ireland, follows a small team of district and community nurses caring for local people all over the Peninsula, enabling them to stay at home, in familiar surroundings, with friends and family nearby.
For many of their patients, the comfort and company the nurses provide is as important as the medical care they offer, and the trusted relationships they build are invaluable.
Portaferry patient Kirsty is undergoing chemotherapy. To reduce the number of hospital trips, and minimise the risk of infection, nurse Tanya comes to Kirsty’s home to take blood samples and check on her well-being. Later, viewers will see Kirsty singing her heart out at a rehearsal of The Selkies, an all-female sea shanty group based on the Peninsula.
Meanwhile nurse Gemma is keeping a watchful eye on Rea, an elderly patient who lives with his wife Ruth, in a residential home with stunning coastal views. Ruth has dementia while Rea has diabetes, and Gemma’s company and companionship are a great tonic.
Nurse Claire is moving to another team, and we join her as she makes a final visit to Peggy, her patient for several years. Claire explains how the close bonds they build with patients can make it difficult to switch off when they’re off duty.
Despite living in the area for most of her life, district nurse Jenny knows locals still consider her a “blow-in”. She loves her job and viewers will ride along with her on her way to Ballywalter to visit a patient who teaches Jenny some of the Ulster-Scots names given to local towns, and shares memories of his career at sea.
The Peninsula Nurses begins on BBC One Northern Ireland, Monday 22 May at 10.40pm and will also be available on BBC iPlayer.
The series is made by Tyrone Productions for BBC Northern Ireland, with assistance from the Northern Ireland Screen Ulster Scots Broadcast Fund.