THE Bishop of Birkenhead joined staff at Arrowe Park Hospital for a service marking International Nurses Day.

Jill Galvani, director of nursing and midwifery, welcomed the Rt Revd Keith Sinclair for a blessing and thanksgiving ceremony on Monday.

International Nurses Day is celebrated throughout the world on May 12. It is the birthday of Florence Nightingale, widely considered to be the founder of modern nursing.

Mrs Galvani said: "We were delighted to have the Bishop of Birkenhead attend our special International Nurses Day celebration.

"International Nurses Day is a chance for all of us in nursing to reflect on why we entered this profession, take stock of the challenges we face and recommit to delivering care with compassion, competence, communication, courage and commitment or what is more widely known in the NHS today as the 6 Cs."

In addition to the celebrations taking place to mark Florence Nightingale’s birthday, a service is held at London’s Westminster Abbey.