Media Release
Date: 10 November 2020
A window into the world of Nursing and Midwifery
A new window display has popped up in the centre of Bath to celebrate 2020 being the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife.
The eye-catching display in Milsom Street, part of B&NES Council's Shop Window Art Project, reflects the changing face of nursing through the years and was put together by staff at the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, including the Art at the Heart team.
On show are five mannequins - Florence Nightingale, a WWI VAD, a nurse/midwife from the 1950s and two nurses/midwives wearing PPE.
Also on display is a booklet provided by the Mary Seacole Trust, in recognition of the pioneering work of Mary Seacole, the Jamaican-born nurse who overcame racism and injustice and nursed soldiers during the Crimean war.
Artworks displayed behind the mannequins were created during this year's pandemic, including a print by RUH staff member Hannah Gaisford titled 'We Can Do It'. Reassuring messages can be found in opticians boards: 'I See You' by Ali Brown, from Southmead Hospital.
Butterfly Rainbow was generously donated to the RUH by Damian Hirst, who created the work to show support for the NHS in the coronavirus crisis. A limited edition of the work was produced with all profits donated to NHS Charities Together, raising a total of more than £1.5m.
There is also a teddy bear nurse that was made especially for the RUH by local resident Mrs Jan Hunt.
Lisa Cheek, Director of Nursing and Midwifery at the RUH, said: "I'm delighted we have been able to celebrate the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife with such an impressive display.
"It's recognition of the hard work and excellent patient care provided by our nurses and midwives at the RUH and across the NHS.
"We haven't been able to run a full range of celebration events this year because of COVID and the restrictions that have been in place, but I'm hopeful that this display, which will be on show until the end of the year, will prove popular with visitors to the centre of Bath, whether they are out for a stroll, exercising or back shopping once the stores reopen.
"I would like to thank the Mary Seacole Trust for their support, as well as B&NES Council and also Marks and Spencer and Bath Theatrical, who loaned us mannequins and costumes."