International Nurses’ Day was first celebrated in the US in 1965 and since 1974, the day has been organised by the International Council of Nurses. It serves to highlight the importance of nurses in the healthcare system – celebrating their dedication, hard work and impact on patient health.

It provides a platform for healthcare organisations, patients and the public to express gratitude and acknowledge the essential services provided by nurses worldwide, often under challenging circumstances.

The 2026 theme for this special day is ‘Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives’.

At St Wilfrid’s Hospice, we feel it’s important to recognise the incredible skill, dedication and impact of nursing – and in particular, the nurses who provide expert, person-centred end-of-life care, making a huge difference to local lives.

365 days of the year, seven days a week, St Wilfrid’s Hospice’s nurses and clinicians support your community, providing free-of-charge care to dying people who need it. Our teams support over 340 local people at any one time, both on our Hospice Ward and out in the community in patients’ homes.

Person-centred care is at the heart of what we do. We are committed to providing everybody who uses our services with care, dignity and kindness. Helping bring peace, calm and even joy to people’s lives when they need it most.  

Our expert palliative and end-of-life care encompasses physical, emotional, social, psychological and spiritual support. We know that every moment, every gesture and every small kindness really matters at the end of someone’s life, so we take the time to get to know every person we care for – treating them and their loved ones as the individuals they are.

All this care is completely free-of-charge to the patient and their loved ones, and we rely on the generosity of people like you to raise the majority of the £10.5 million a year it costs to run these vital services.

So, thank you to all our amazing nurses – and thank you to all our incredible supporters, donors and shoppers.

To donate, or to find out more about our upcoming events and shop locations, please click below: