Each year on May 12 nurses all over the world celebrate International Nurses Day.

May 12 was Florence Nightingale’s birthday. She and Mary Seacole, a nursing volunteer from the West Indies, were the founders of modern nursing.

Nurses care for everyone. They work for the NHS, caring for those suffering Covid 19; but also vaccinate people in countries ravaged by the pandemic and care for victims of war and famine.

If you have friends, neighbours or family that are nurses or you have been cared for by nurses please smile, pass on good wishes and thank a nurse today.

Prime Minister, if you are listening to the public’s appreciation, announce a decent pay rise. Applause, whilst appreciated, does not pay the bills.

Gwen Vardigans, Retired nurse,

Carron Crescent, Woodthorpe,York