Healthcare professionals working for Health and Community Services and outside of the public sector were today being celebrated as part of International Nurses Day, an annual event being marked around the world.
And Rose Naylor, the Island’s chief nurse, said it had been heartening to see the recent public support demonstrated for healthcare workers.
‘Nurses across the Island, wherever they work – whether that is in the Hospital or in the community, are undergoing what is perhaps one of the biggest challenges of their careers when caring for patients during the global outbreak of coronavirus,’ she said.
‘Their resilience, dedication and versatility is making a real difference within cities and communities around the world as we face this challenge together. Seeing the public attitude to healthcare professionals continues to be appreciated and incredibly empowering for staff. It is also fitting that on the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, Jersey has its own, temporary, Nightingale Wing of the General Hospital ready to care for Islanders if needed.’
During the crisis, nurses within HCS have been redeployed to different wards, given refresher training and have renewed their skills and some retirees have voluntarily returning to work. Some registered nurses and other healthcare professionals living outside of Jersey have also returned to the Island to help deal with the outbreak.
