With RCN General Secretary Dr Peter Carter, and North East MPs Grahame Morris and Ian Lavery at the Nurses’ Day reception

Catherine McKinnell, local MP for Newcastle North, has celebrated Nurses’ Day 2014 at a reception held in Parliament.

Hosted by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), the Nurses’ Day reception in Parliament was an opportunity for nurses who have led the way in their clinical area and made an exceptional contribution to the nursing profession to share their stories and experiences with MPs, Peers, and representatives from other leading health care organisations.

Nurses’ Day is held on 12 May each year, the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, and is an international day of appreciation for the difference that nurses make to the lives of those they care for. Nurses and their patients up and down the country have been celebrating and reflecting on the invaluable contribution of nursing staff to health care.

Catherine McKinnell MP said: “Nurses play an essential role in delivering high quality health care so I was very pleased to support Nurses’ Day. Nurses dedicate their working lives to caring for people and it was fantastic to celebrate their work.”

Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive & General Secretary of the RCN, said: “Nurses’ Day has been an opportunity to applaud the great work that nurses up and down the country do every day. From the moment a new life begins, to saying goodbye to a loved one, and all the stages in between, nurses make a remarkable contribution to the lives of so many people and it’s only right for us to come together and celebrate their achievements.”