On Tuesday 12th May Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) is marking International Nurses’ Day. It is a particularly significant celebration this year, as 12th May is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, pioneer of many of the principles that lie at the heart of the modern day profession. 2020 was designated as the ‘Year of the Nurse and Midwife’ by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in recognition of the benefits that nursing and midwifery staff bring to the health of the global population and to address shortages in the workforce.
MFT is one of the largest acute Trusts in the UK and manages ten hospitals, in addition to Community services, across Manchester and Trafford providing services to the people of Manchester, Trafford and the North West. With a workforce of more than 25,000 staff, nurses, midwives and nursing associates makeup nearly three quarters of this number across a variety of roles and specialisms. MFT has over 2,500 student nurses and nursing associates each year, and in 2020 is celebrating 20 years of welcoming international nurses to Manchester, with 700 joining MFT in the last five years.
A special badge has been commissioned to celebrate the Year of the Nurse and Midwife which will be presented to all MFT registered nurses, midwives and nursing associates on International Nurses’ Day and during the month of May. Our nurses and midwives will also receive other MFT 2020 commemorative items such as cups and water bottles to help them to stay hydrated during busy shifts. These items are just a small thank you in recognition of the hard work and continued professional development and innovation that nurses and midwives bring to their professions and to the Trust and most of all to the communities that we serve.
Sue Ward, Deputy Chief Nurse at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We owe the foundations of modern nursing practice to Florence Nightingale, and 12th May will be a chance to remember her and to celebrate and thank our nurses for rising to the challenge of the current situation. Directors of Nursing and Assistant Chief Nurses will also be sharing their own messages of thanks with their teams across all of our hospitals and services and marking this special day across MFT, as far as social distancing requirements allow.”
While this year’s annual International Nurses’ Day celebrations may look different to previous years’, Professor Cheryl Lenney, Chief Nurse at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are immensely proud of our Nursing teams all year round, but even more so during these exceptional times. Our Nursing workforce in particular has mobilised and risen to the challenges we have faced as a population and at MFT our Nursing teams have demonstrated their skills, professionalism and resilience across all services, in continuing to provide excellent patient care.”
Read Professor Lenney’s letter of thanks to all MFT nurses and midwives
Follow MFT on Twitter @MFTnhs #YNM2020 #IND2020 to see more.