12 May 2020, 4:21 p.m.

Gloucestershire Hospitals will be lighting up both hospital sites in a spectacular way this evening (12 May) in recognition of International Nurses Day and to coincide with the 200th birthday anniversary of Florence Nightingale.

The Tower Block at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital will feature a dramatic and thought-provoking audio visual display and the pillars at Cheltenham General Hospitals will be lit up in blue to pay tribute to its 2,042 nurses, in Gloucestershire Hospitals, who care for patients on a daily basis.

Professor Steve Hams, Director of Quality and Chief Nurse said: “This International Nurses Day is a particularly special one. Not only is it also Year of the Nurse and Midwife and Florence Nightingale’s 200th birthday, it is also set against a backdrop of COVID-19. Our nurses in Gloucestershire continue to give exceptional care in difficult circumstances and I couldn’t be prouder. Their commitment to patients, their families and the wider community is unwavering and I would like to thank them for everything they do.

“I would also like to thank Evenlode Films and Productions, a Cheltenham-based production company and the hospital charity for their support in enabling us to light up our Tower Block in such an iconic way this evening.”

In line with social distancing, people are asked not to attend the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital site to view the display, however, it can be viewed on Gloucestershire Hospitals main Facebook page, live this evening from 9.30pm onwards.