International Nurses Day 2021: NHS North Yorkshire CCG pays tribute to ‘extraordinary’ nurses

NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group’s Chief Nurse has paid tribute to nursing colleagues across the county.

On International Nurses Day – marked annually on the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale – Sue Peckitt says nurses in GP surgeries, hospitals and in the community have been “extraordinary” over the last 12 months.

“This last year has probably been the toughest in the history of the NHS, yet our nurses in North Yorkshire and York have risen to the numerous challenges they’ve faced with typical selflessness, dignity and compassion,” she said. “They have put others first, sacrificed time with their own families and willingly put themselves on the frontline of our fight against COVID.

“They continue to play an absolutely vital part in the NHS COVID vaccination programme, and I want to say a heartfelt thank you for everything they’ve done over the last year.”

Florence Nightingale, who lived from 12 May 1820 to 13 August 1910, is often referred to as the founder of modern nursing. She was known as The Lady with the Lamp after helping wounded soldiers in the Crimean War and later set up the Nightingale School of Nursing at St Thomas’ Hospital in London.

This year, the theme of International Nurses Day, set by the International Council of Nurses, is ‘Nurses: A Voice to Lead – A vision for future healthcare’.

In the UK, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is keen to showcase “what it means to nurse and how nursing staff have led patient care during the Covid-19 pandemic”.

A spokesperson said: “Nursing staff working through the pandemic have shattered the stereotypes of nursing. The world has seen first-hand the fundamental role nursing plays in patient safety.”