More than 170 nurses took part last night in an evening of celebration at St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds.

The event was held to celebrate International Nurses’ Day and the huge contribution of nurses in the region, and was attended by Catherine Morgan, the chief nurse for the NHS in the east of England, the Reverend Sarah Geileskey, the Cathedral Curate and nurses that work in a range of hospital and community settings.

The Purple All Stars choir, whose members have learning disabilities, performed a number of songs, and a candle was lit by Sarah Geileskey, the Cathedral Curate of St Edmundsbury Cathedral to commemorate the nurses who died during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Geraldine Rodgers, the deputy chief nurse for the NHS in the East of England region, said today:

“It was an honour to attend this event and pay tribute to the remarkable range of work that nurses do, and the critical role they play in the treatment and rehabilitation of patients.

“We heard stories from a number of nurses, including the experiences of some international nurses who left their home countries to come and work the NHS.

“There was also a very moving tribute to the nurses that died during the Covid pandemic. Their unending care and compassion will never be forgotten.”