Helen Whately, Minister for Care also encourages everyone to shine a light. She said, “This year International Nurses Day falls in the midst of an unprecedented global pandemic, with our nurses at the very forefront of the response every day and night. I have been humbled to see them face the biggest challenge of a generation, continuing to show compassion, professionalism and dedication during incredibly demanding times.”

And Professor Greta Westwood, CEO of Florence Nightingale Foundation said, “Nurses have been on the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic, providing expert care and support to patients and their families during these uncertain times.
“Florence Nightingale, herself a trailblazer during her career, would have been proud at the way nurses have followed in her footsteps as pioneers and leaders in the fight against the pandemic. They are truly her legacy today.”

Andrea Sutcliffe CBE, Chief Executive and Registrar at the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) said, “I am so grateful and proud of our nurses, nursing associates and their colleagues. I hope this special day encourages even more nurses to join or return to what is a wonderful and rewarding career.”

Nursing has changed dramatically since Florence Nightingale founded the first nursing school in London – nurses are not only on hospital wards, they are out in the community, care homes, academia, running hospitals and developing policy.

The modern nursing challenge is to deliver consistent and improving high quality care and they are essential to meet the challenge of improving care, reducing inequalities and using health and care resources wisely.

Marie Curie Chief Nurse and Executive Director of Quality and Caring Services, Julie Pearce, said, “Caring for someone during their final weeks and days of life is both a privilege and a challenge. Right now our frontline nurses and other professionals are committed to supporting the NHS through this national crisis, caring for patients with coronavirus and other illnesses in our hospices, in homes and care homes across our four nations.”