Nurses Day celebrations take place every year on 12th May, but in 2020, there’s even more reason than usual to celebrate the contribution nurses make in our society.
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s nursing staff have been central to the hospitals’ COVID-19 response in recent weeks, working round-the-clock in areas such as intensive care, emergency care and infection control to provide the best care possible for patients.
But nursing staff can be found in all areas of Castle Hill Hospital and Hull Royal Infirmary, as well as community clinics too. The Trust employs research nurses, children’s nurses, and nurse specialists who are experts in a particular illness or condition such as diabetes, stroke or heart failure. Then there are respiratory nurses, nurses who manage organ donation, and advanced nurse practitioners, who undergo extra training to work at a higher clinical level.
In total, the Trust employs more than 2,600 registered nurses and almost 1,200 healthcare assistants, without whom the organisation would be lost.
Beverley Geary, Chief Nurse for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says:
“Nurses Day is always a great opportunity for us to pause, reflect and really appreciate the contribution our nurses make to our organisation.
“With the arrival of the COVID-19, it’s no longer just ourselves who are truly seeing the value of our nursing staff. We’ve received so many donations and offers of support in recent weeks for them, and now with the weekly Clap for Carers, our communities are also showing a renewed understanding and appreciation for all that they do.
“It can be physically and emotionally challenging at times, but a career in nursing is so rewarding and provides so many different opportunities to progress and to specialise.
“I’m proud to be a nurse and would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all our nursing staff for their care, compassion and dedication, not just now, but every single day of the year.”
The bespoke design for Hull nurses by Helena Mackevych
One of the kind gestures shown to the trust has come from Sheffield-based Helena Mackevych. Illustrator Helena has designed and donated a stunning piece of artwork which thanks all nurses and midwives at the Trust. Two prints of Helena’s work will be framed and displayed around the hospitals.
Helena says:
“I wanted to create this because I’m so grateful to everyone in the NHS for everything they do all the time, and even more so at the moment. They are taking such risks to take care of us all; such amazing and courageous people.”
Beverley adds:
“Helena’s design is just stunning, and will serve not only as a lasting reminder of the current situation, but as an ongoing thank you and show of appreciation for the work of our nurses and midwives.
“We’d really like to thank Helena for donating her time and her effort, the illustration really is beautiful.”