Sherwood Forest Hospitals is celebrating the vital role of nurses all over the world with a special week-long programme of activities and events in May.

The highlight of the event, International Nurses Day, is celebrated around the world every year on 12 May, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. The International Council of Nurses initiated this day of celebration in 1965, and each year commemorates this important day.

Nurses make a significant contribution to the health and wellbeing of the local population by delivering quality patient care to people of all ages. They represent the largest proportion of the Trust’s health workforce. Over 1600 registered and unregistered nurses are employed at the Trust working in all areas of nursing, midwifery, research and education.

Included in the programme of activities is the celebration of diversity in nursing. Nurses from a variety of social and cultural backgrounds play an essential role in delivering healthcare and bring an invaluable contribution to nursing in the Trust.

Celebrations will culminate on 12 May with a showcase event in the main entrance at King’s Mill Hospital. Nurses, dressed in uniforms from the ages, will display evidence of best practice and innovations which have resulted in better health outcomes for patients.

Victoria Bagshaw, Deputy Director of Nursing for the Trust, said: “On behalf of the Trust I would like to congratulate our nurses for their outstanding achievements this year.

“As part of our celebrations all nurses working for the Trust will be given a token of appreciation as a thank you for all the wonderful work that they do every hour, 24 hours a day, for the healthcare of our local communities.”