16 July 2025
To celebrate International Nurses Day, two members of the Business Services Organisation (BSO) Clinical Education Centre (CEC) travelled to London to celebrate the 60th Florence Nightingale Commemoration Service held at Westminster Abbey.
Nora O’Neill (Midwifery education consultant) and Elaine McNally (Nurse education consultant) joined over 2,000 invited guests to remember Florence Nightingale.
The Florence Nightingale Commemoration Service has been held annually at Westminster Abbey since 1965 and is an opportunity for nurses and midwives to gather to pause, reflect, and rededicate themselves to their professions on the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth, 12 May 1820.
During the Commemoration Service, a burning lamp was carried through the Abbey and placed on the altar to represent the undying spirit of the service displayed by Florence Nightingale, demonstrated by nurses and midwives today.
Attending this symbolic and inspiring service, Nora and Elaine stood proudly amongst fellow nursing and midwifery colleagues and other UK and global representatives, in honour of the nursing profession’s impact and heritage.
Nora and Elaine’s participation in this event reflects the CEC’s ongoing commitment to supporting excellence in clinical education and upholding the values of compassion, leadership, and service.
Pictured below L-R: Nora O’Neill, Verena Wallace (Senior Midwifery Advisor, Nursing and Midwifery Council, NMC) and Elaine McNally
