A HOSPITAL trust celebrated the contribution of its staff with a Nurses Day last week.

Sussex and Surrey Healthcare, which runs East Surrey Hospital, held the day on Tuesday of last week as a sign of appreciation for its 1,800 nurses.

Mary Sexton, the trust director for nursing, quality and governance, said: "The profession has developed with each decade but compassion, high hygiene standards and safety remain the foundations of nursing.

"I am committed to my nurses to help stimulate ideas and encourage them to champion and deliver high quality care that promotes best practice bringing benefits to patients and nurses themselves.

"Our nurses make a difference each day giving comfort and showing humanity – care that reflects all that is great about nursing and that is done kindly and with compassion."