“Take time to celebrate and shine a light” that’s the message from Chief Nurse Marie Crofts in her personal message to Oxford Health’s 1,500 strong nursing workforce on International Nurses Day (May 12)

She is urging her nursing teams across all services to take some time out on the special day – which is part of 2020 Year of the Nurse celebrations – to acknowledge their incredible skills and contribution to health care.

And she is hoping wherever our workforce is at 8.30pm, that they, their friends, and family join a national call to action to shine a light from a window in a symbolic gesture of unity marking International Nurses Day, the 200^th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale and to recognise their efforts to tackle coronavirus.

Calling them very special and incredible people, Marie has paid tribute to her nurses’ caring, compassion and specialist knowledge that she witnesses wherever she goes –  at every site, on every ward and in very service that she had spent time with.

She said: “I’m privileged to work alongside you all and although our celebrations won’t be what we had planned, please take some time in your teams to celebrate with each other.”

Marie has revealed that she plans to ensure every Oxford Health nurse receives a special commemorative badge to mark 2020 Year of the Nurse as a small token of her appreciation.

She added: “Oxford Health nurses are very, very compassionate and committed to providing high quality care. Thank you, thank you, thank you –  from the bottom of my heart. I appreciate every one of you and everything you do each day, now more than ever in these challenging and unprecedented times. Happy International Nurses Day 2020.