On 16th January 2020, we welcomed 150 guests to the House of Lords to a reception. The special occasion was hosted by our President, Baroness Mary Watkins of Tavistock to launch Florence Nightingale’s 200th birthday celebrations. We were joined by guest speakers The Rt. Hon Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock and the CEO of NHS England and Improvement Simon Stevens. Guests gathered also heard about our plans for the new Florence Nightingale Foundation Academy.
Dame Yvonne Moores, Chair of the Florence Nightingale Foundation said: “This is an important year for our profession and a chance to recognise and celebrate the role of nurses and midwives. Florence Nightingale was a great health and social reformer and believed in advancing the skills and profile of the professions.“
“Nurses and midwives are the future in the delivery of healthcare – The Florence Nightingale Foundation will continue to develop leaders who will go on to become pioneers of healthcare delivering innovative and evidence-based practice.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “My grandmother showed me nursing is one of the most fulfilling careers and it remains just as rewarding and vital today – without our brilliant nurses there is no NHS. The Florence Nightingale Foundation does trailblazing work and I’m delighted they are focused on driving forward technological innovation within these vital professions. In this landmark year, it’s fitting we’re investing to deliver 50,000 more nurses over the next five years and giving nursing and midwifery students the financial support they need to maximise their potential.”