On International Nurses’ Day, 10,000 Voices demonstrates level of appreciation felt for nurses

On International Nurses’ Day, 10,000 Voices demonstrates level of appreciation felt for nurses

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is today marking International Nurses’ Day by recognising the role nurses play in providing treatment, care and support to patients across health and social care settings.

This comes as feedback to date provided through 10,000 Voices, the PHA’s ongoing initiative to enable patients, as well as their families and carers, to share their overall experience of health and social care, has demonstrated this with a large number of patients stating that their experience of nursing and midwifery care has been positive.

International Nurses’ Day is celebrated on 12 May each year to commemorate the birthday of Florence Nightingale, and to recognise the contribution that nurses and midwives make to the delivery of healthcare services. It provides an opportunity to celebrate the dedication and hard work of all our nurses and midwives and to raise awareness of their work.

Pat Cullen, Director of Nursing and Allied Health Professions at the PHA, said: “10,000 Voices is a unique initiative that offers people an opportunity to tell us about their experiences as a patient or as someone who has experienced the health service, and to highlight the things that were important to them, which will help direct how care is delivered in Northern Ireland.

“Many of the stories received to date pay tribute to the care, compassion and professionalism displayed by nurses and midwives. These stories clearly demonstrate a high level of respect, appreciation and public confidence in our nurses and midwives, with 92% of patients stating that their experience of nursing or midwifery care has been positive.

“Nurses and midwives in Northern Ireland provide treatment, care and support across a broad range of services, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in a wide variety of settings. This day provides an opportunity to raise awareness of their work and acknowledge and celebrate the commitment of all our nurses and midwives who work extremely hard, often in challenging circumstances, to deliver high quality, safe and effective care.”

For more information please visit the PHA website. The 10,000 Voices survey is also available to complete at www.10000morevoices.hscni.net.