News
PHC celebrates caring and courageous professionals – pivotal in our health system
May 12, 2020
Nurses at Peel Health Campus (PHC) have today celebrated International Nurses Day (12 May), which coincides with Florence Nightingale’s birthday.
Florence Nightingale founded the profession of nursing by caring for wounded and sick soldiers in the Crimean War.
This year is even more special because 2020 has been named the ‘International year of the Nurse and Midwife’ by the World Health Organization (WHO).
PHC Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Tome, said more than 400 dedicated nurses made up almost half of the hospital’s workforce.
“Nurses play a critical role in our hospital, and also the health system in general,” Mr Tome said.
“Just look at the caring and courageous acts of nurses in response to COVID-19, as they care for the sick and dying around the world. It highlights how important they are. The health system simply could not function without them.”
Mr Tome also reinforced his gratitude towards PHC midwives, who celebrated International Day of the Midwives on 5 May.
“Midwives also play a pivotal role in the health system as they support women and their families through pregnancy, at the birth of their babies and in the first few days of life,” he said.
PHC has 53 caring midwives who help deliver some 900 babies each year.
“They, too, have also continued to work on the frontline throughout the pandemic.”
Mr Tome thanked both nurses and midwives saying they were both “extremely special and important people working in rewarding, dynamic and at times very challenging roles”.
Peel Health Campus, which is part of Ramsay Health Care, had planned to host a celebratory function for nurses and midwives but the COVID-19 pandemic prevented it from going ahead.
Instead nurses and midwives have been treated to cupcakes, biscuits and cakes from local service providers.
Mandurah musician, Dee Gibbs, contacted the hospital and came in and played the flute for the nurses, midwives, doctors and other staff.
“I have in recent years been a patient at Peel Health Campus and the staff were brilliant,” she said.
Dee also believes the current pandemic has highlighted the role of nurses.
“Nurses around the world are putting their lives on the line,” she said. “We owe a lot to nurses.”