Rachael Maskell, Labour and Co-operative MP for York Central, met with nursing staff in Parliament to highlight the exceptional work and dedication of York’s as part of International Nurses’ Day in this 70th year since the founding of the NHS.
Rachael, once an NHS professional herself, met frontline nurses in Parliament as the RCN made preparations for International Nurses’ Day. While vacancies for nursing staff is at an all-time high and applications are falling for people to enter nursing, especially mature students, due to the Government slashing the nurses bursary scheme, it has to be recognised that those who work in the NHS provide the highest levels of treatment and care to support people at their time of need.
Nursing staff work across a wide variety of settings, from our community to mental health, learning disability and acute settings, as well as provide specialisms in care homes, schools and prisons. While the environment for nursing is growing ever more challenging with the 10,000s of unfilled vacancies, and staff having to cover for this, nursing staff are as ever dedicated and professional in all that they do.
Nurses’ Day is an international event held annually on Florence Nightingale’s birthday (12 May) to enable people to just pause and think about the incredible contribution that nurses make in the UK and across the world. This year the nurses professional body, the Royal College of Nursing is encouraging people to share their experienced of nurses using the hashtag #ThisNurse, as a means of encouraging all those who nurse.
Rachael Maskell MP, said:
“Nurses’ Day is a fantastic way to show our support for nursing staff in our health and care services. It’s our chance to thank them for the care they provide to our families, friends, neighbours and colleagues. I encourage everyone to celebrate the remarkable work of nursing staff in York and across the UK.”
Janet Davies, Chief Executive and General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said:
“Nursing is a dynamic profession with caring for people at its heart. Nurses’ Day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the incredible work nursing staff do every single day of the year.
“There is no ‘one size fits all’ rule for nursing staff. They work in a variety of settings and have a diverse range of skills. But what unties them all is their dedication, even in difficult circumstances, to delivering outstanding patient care.”
For more information please visit: The Royal College of Nursing