15 May 2019
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.
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON BLOOD TESTING DUE TO COVID-19
If you are experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, e.g. fever, loss of taste or continuous new cough, please DO NOT attend for a blood test.
Click on the map for information about phlebotomy clinics in Coventry. You can book an appointment online at the locations in red.
Please book an appointment before attending for a blood test. Click on the ‘Book Online’ button above. Booking an appointment helps patients, their carers and family members to plan their hospital visit better, helping to reduce clinic waiting times and enabling patients to be seen much more quickly.
Location: Outpatients Department, on the ground floor. Opening hours: 8am-4.45pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).
Children under 16 years old will need to book online here.
Please book an appointment before attending for a blood test, click on the ‘Book Online’ button above. Patients from Rugby and the surrounding areas are able to access the Friends Blood Taking Unit at the Hospital of St Cross.
Referrals for blood tests can be from GP's, practice nurses or from hospital consultants. Patients are also able to leave other samples, such as urine, which have been collected at home, at the hospital's Pathology Reception.
Location: Near Brookfield House, just off North Road - map here. Opening hours: The blood taking clinic sessions for adults and children are listed below:
Monday -Friday 7am-4:45pm Appointment only
Wednesday Evening 5pm-7pm Suspended due to COVID
Saturday Morning 7am-10pm Suspended due to COVID
April 2020 NEW - This Clinic is now by appointment. Please book an appointment before attending for a blood test. Click on the ‘Book Online’ button above.
Address: Stoney Stanton Road, Coventry CV1 4FS Location: Access is via the main doors, the Phlebotomy team are in Area A. Opening hours: Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays). 8am–4.45pm
Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT)
Specialist Tests - There are a small number of specialist tests where blood needs to be taken on a hospital site as the sample must be transferred to the laboratory rapidly for the test to be undertaken. Click here for a list of these specialist tests and to find out more.