Sutton nurse to escort the Lamp Carrier at 57th Florence Nightingale Commemoration Service
Sutton Health and Care Charge Nurse, Leonie Brown, has been honoured with the task of escorting the Lamp Carrier through Westminster Abbey at the 57th Florence Nightingale Foundation Commemoration Service.
On Wednesday, 11 May 2022 at 6.30pm, nurses, midwives, VIPS and supporters of the Florence Nightingale Foundation (FNF) are gathering at Westminster Abbey for the annual Florence Nightingale Commemoration Service. Together they will celebrate the life and work of Florence Nightingale and celebrate the nurses and midwives of today who are following in her footsteps.
Leonie Brown, a Sexual Health Charge Nurse and Education Lead at The Rosehill Clinic based in St Helier Hospital, is one of two nurses to escort the Lamp Carrier. During the ceremony several significant processions take place. FNF Alumni process the Lamp, gifted to the Foundation by Sir Dan Mason OBE in 1968. The Lamp is then passed to students to signify the transfer of knowledge and expertise between the nursing and midwifery generations.
Leonie Brown said: “I am truly honoured to be chosen to take part in such a prestigious event. I am so proud to be representing sexual health nursing, Sutton Health and Care, Epsom and St Helier hospitals and Jamaica.
“Sexual health nursing is a unique speciality with more than meets the eye; I chose to work in Sexual Health so that I could help reduce the stigma still attached to sexual health issues. It is a privilege to work with people when they are at their most vulnerable.
“In 2019, as a direct descendant of Windrush, I was lucky to be one of the 44 offered the opportunity to be on the FNF Windrush Leadership Programme for BAME nurses or midwives who are or were descendants of the Windrush generation.”
This year’s service will be especially poignant, in addition to the procession of the Roll of Honour which recognises the nurses and midwives who lost their lives in the Second World War, a Roll of Honour recognising the nurses, midwives, nursing associates and health care support workers who died during the pandemic will be processed by the UK Chief Nursing Officers.
Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy, The Right Honourable Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Maggie Throup, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Vaccines and Public Health, and Anneliese Dodds, Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities and Chair of the Labour Party, will be attending the Service.
The Covid 19 pandemic resulted in the 2020 Commemoration Service being cancelled, and last year’s event was significantly restricted. The Foundation are therefore delighted that this year, ca. 2,000 guests will join together on what is the eve of the 202nd anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth (12th May 1820).
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Note for editors
- For more information, please contact Louise Soler, Communications and Engagement Manager email on: louise.soler@nhs.net or call 07795 367210.
- Sutton Health and Care is a pioneering partnership made up of the GP federation in Sutton, the London Borough of Sutton, South West London and St George’s Mental Health Trust and Epsom and St Helier hospitals. Working together, we provide adult and children’s community services, and sexual health services in Sutton.
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- About the Florence Nightingale Foundation: Florence Nightingale is undoubtedly the world’s most famous nurse and her influence and legacy continue to have an effect throughout the world today.
For almost a century, the Florence Nightingale Foundation have supported the pioneers and trailblazers who have followed in Florence’s footsteps. Today, we are reaching over 200,000 nurses and midwives across the UK. They are the people who care for us and our loved ones in hospitals, community settings, in our homes, in prisons and, in the case of military nurses, around the world. Now more than ever, with a nursing and midwifery workforce shortage and the immense pressures on the wellbeing of those across all services, it is vital that we continue to support and develop our nursing and midwifery leaders – the Nightingales of today.
FNF Scholars report the positive impact they have on leading teams and improving patient care and health outcomes. In a recent survey, 82.5% of leaderships scholars identified that they made an impact to health and social care policy and practice. A significant number of scholars are promoted into more senior roles within two years of the scholarship. In a recent survey, 95% of scholars identified that their scholarship had a positive impact on their career.
For more information about the Florence Nightingale Foundation contact: Johanna Woodthorpe-Smith, Communications and Marketing Manager, email: johanna@florence-nightingale-foundation.org.uk or call: 07309 736441