A special book of reflections has been launched in NHS Forth Valley to recall the challenges of the past year due Covid-19.
Designed by the Forth Valley branch of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) it began its journey on International Nurses Day on 12th May 2021 and is currently travelling across all sites, including Forth Valley Royal Hospital and the four community hospitals, to collect as many signatures and memories as possible.
Nurses across the organisation were also pictured with personal messages to highlight the important role of nursing and thank the public for their support over the last year. These photos, along with a number of video messages, were shared on social media throughout the day and generated a fantastic response from local patients and their families.
NHS Forth Valley Nurse Director Professor Angela Wallace said: “I want to say a huge and heartfelt thank you to all our nurses for the care, comfort and support given to the people of Forth Valley in what has been one of the most difficult and most challenging years in living memory.
“The Covid-19 pandemic and how nurses have responded to it has demonstrated the importance and impact of nursing across the world. The blend and balance of care and compassion, knowledge and skills and of creating new ways of working and supporting so many has been absolutely remarkable. There aren’t enough words to describe the outstanding work of local staff.”
Local RCN representative Carol Morgan added: “We would like the book to include all staff, not just nurses, as we have all been in this together. We already have one nurse who is retiring soon to start the book along with a student nurse. Once the book has completed its journey the RCN will present it to the staff of NHS Forth Valley.”
During the pandemic, many nurses were redeployed and others came out of retirement to help support their former colleagues and deliver the Covid-19 vaccination programme. International Nurses Day is held throughout the world and celebrates the birthday of perhaps the world’s most famous nurse Florence Nightingale.
