UHCW played a starring role as Nurses and Midwives across Coventry and Warwickshire were celebrated during a special ceremony at Coventry Cathedral.

The pride and talent demonstrated by both professions took centre stage as part of International Nurses Day and International Day of the Midwife.

A procession - led by our very own Aaron Watling, a newly qualified nurse on Ward 41 - was met with cheers from onlookers as it made its way through the city centre.

Aaron, who held a ceremonial lamp, said: "It was an amazing moment."

Inspirational speakers, guided expertly by our Chief Nursing Officer Nina Morgan in her role as Master of Ceremonies, then shone the spotlight on what it means to make a difference each and every day.

Particularly memorable was a moving talk from Yana Richens, Deputy Head of Maternity at NHS England, who spoke candidly about the care and compassion her family was shown at University Hospital after sadly losing her grandchild.

Our award-winning Clinical Nurse Specialist Joe Colby told the 200 plus audience about his unorthodox career path, which took him from banking to nursing. He stated that many aspects of healthcare have changed since his arrival in 1992 but the fundamentals have not: care, comfort and compassion.

"I am so proud to be a nurse," he concluded.

Paul Holmes, our Chaplain and Bereavement Service Officer, told captivated onlookers that he left the NHS for three years to live near the sea in Dorset, but missed it so much that he came back.

"I never cease to be amazed by the care, professionalism and dedication of staff," he said during a speech including spiritualism, wellbeing and relationships.

"After 22 years there are still so many occasions where I think wow."

The event also saw speakers from Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust, Coventry University, NHS Coventry and Rugby CCG and NHS Warwickshire North CCG.

It was left to Nina to sum up the strength of feeling in the room. "We are proud of your incredible efforts to provide compassionate care," she said. "We are proud of your skills and knowledge. We’re proud of your dedication and commitment. We’re proud of the difference you make 24 hours a day, 365 days a year."

As attendees gathered for refreshments after a moving hour and a half, many nurses and midwives scribbled messages on a chalkboard. "We are just a bunch of ordinary people doing extraordinary things," said one. Never has a truer word been spoken.