12 May 2020, is International Nurses Day and this year it falls on the bicentennial anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth.

This day usually provides health and care professionals with an opportunity to celebrate and highlight the vast and varied skills that they have and the work that they do for our community.

2020 was also designated by the World Health Organisation as the first ever global Year of the Nurse and Midwife.

At the beginning of the year, HSC staff began to map out a plan of events to support the Year of the Nurse and Midwife, with an event scheduled for the 12 May to celebrate International Nurses Day. The impact of COVID-19 has meant that these events have been put on hold as all staff within HSC have pulled together to manage the impact of COVID-19 on our health and care services.

Despite this, HSC staff still wish to acknowledge the day and have sent out a message of thanks to the Bailiwick community for their support over recent weeks.

Deputy Heidi Soulsby, President of the Committee for Health & Social Care said: ‘For the past 4 years, on 12 May, I would be looking forward to presenting awards for nurse, midwife and carer of the year, as well as tasting cakes and listening to them work of our health and care professionals.

'This year is different. Covid-19 has meant that our health and care professionals are being celebrated across the globe on a daily basis. Never before have their skills, commitment and expert clinical care been so well publicised in the media. Whilst they want to thank you, the community, for your support, I would like to thank them, and everyone else in the Bailiwick at this time who are working so hard during these very challenging times.’