THE hard work and dedication to outstanding care given by the nurses at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital was celebrated ahead of International Nurses Day.

International Nurses Day will take place on 12 May, and is held as a way of recognising the work and achievements that nurses across the world do.

To celebrate, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Andover War Memorial Hospital, Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital and Royal Hampshire County Hospital, is holding tea parties across all three sites with the second held in Basingstoke on Wednesday.

Sue Pine, who started her training in 1975, said: “I knew I wanted to become a nurse from a very young age, as my mother fostered a lot of children as I was growing up, and I would always help feed and change the toddlers. I think all of her good work with children really inspired me to train as a nurse and help other people in need.”

The party featured plenty of homemade biscuits, some cut in the shape of nurse uniforms, hats, plasters and medicine, as well as an International Nurses Day themed cake which the nurses got to enjoy.

Lucy O’Beirne, who started her training in 1997, added: “My favourite part of being a nurse has definitely been working as a team with my colleagues, I’ve been really lucky to work with lots of lovely people.

“I think my most memorable time working as a nurse was when I organised a wedding for a patient who was coming to the end of their life. That was a really special moment.”

Donna Green, chief nurse at Hampshire Hospitals, said: It’s great to take time out to say thank you and celebrate the amazing contribution of nurses. We are very fortunate to have so many fantastic nurses across the trust.”