Your chance to say thanks to nurses and midwives

ON parade... (from the left) Louise Lewis, senior sister at North Manchester; Jess Pollard, healthcare cadet at North Manchester; Phyll Atkinson, RCN steward and theatre practitioner at North Manchester dressed as Florence Nightingale; Gillian Heath, third-year student and Billie Barratt, (second year) in 1940s uniform.

THE dedication and care of more than 1,300 nurses, midwives and healthcare support workers at The Royal Oldham Hospital will be celebrated as part of National Nurses’ Day tomorrow.

The day is celebrated each year on May 12, commemorating the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth, and is a chance for everyone to thank nursing staff for their work and recognise the difference they can make to patients around the world.

Staff at the Royal Oldham will mark the day by hosting stands on nursing through the decades and will even dress in uniforms dating back to Victorian times for the event.

The stands, which will be located near the lifts at the main entrance to the hospital, will have information on free to access courses for nurses and healthcare assistants; end of life care; nurse revalidation advice; free gifts including trolley tokens, pens and tape measures and thank you cards for patients and visitors to express how nurses have had an impact on their lives.

The event is being sponsored by Sidhil Doherty, providers of hospital beds and accessories.

Gill Harris, chief nurse at The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “National Nurses’ Day is a brilliant way to celebrate the fabulous contribution our nurses and midwives make every day in delivering safe and compassionate care to our patients, carers and families.

“I am very proud to call myself a nurse and to be a part of such a great vocation.

“I know that people enter into the profession to make a difference to the people they serve, to care for them at every point of their lives when they need our support. Falling on the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth the national day is an opportunity for both healthcare professionals and members of the public to thank all of them for their service and dedication. Thank you all!”

Across hospitals and community services run by the trust there is a total of 4,094 nurses and midwives working in a variety of roles including general and surgical nursing, emergency care, outpatient clinics, district nursing and specialist nurse roles.