COVID-19: senior nurses support Marie Curie’s National Day of Reflection
Posted 16 March 2021 - 17:17
One year on, Marie Curie’s National Day of Reflection will allow ‘a pause to remember those who have died’
Nursing leaders have offered their support to a National Day of Reflection dedicated to people who have died during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Remembrance event will be held a year on from the country’s first lockdown
The event, organised by Marie Curie, is being held on 23 March, the anniversary of the start of the UK’s first national lockdown, and the charity is encouraging people to reflect on those who have died in the past year and show support to the millions of people coping with loss.
Among those lending their support to the event are the RCN, England’s chief nursing officer (CNO) Ruth May, Northern Ireland CNO Charlotte McArdle and Wales CNO Jean White.
Ms White, said: ‘I am supporting this day of reflection because it is right that we take a moment to think about how this last year has affected all of us.
‘By pausing in our busy lives, it will give us the much-needed space to remember those people who have died and acknowledge how hard it is for everyone who has lost someone they care about, whether it is a relative, friend or colleague.’
The national day of reflection will be a chance for nursing staff across the UK to mark the loss of friends, colleagues and patients, and to express their gratitude to the public for a year of sacrifice and gestures of support.
RCN general secretary, Dame Donna Kinnair said: ‘We are taking our turn to thank the public. In a time of loss and fear, they helped us to keep digging deeper. We will take a day to remember and reflect – as much about the future we want as the year we’ve had.’
National buildings and landmarks will be illuminated
On the day, there will be a nationwide minute’s silence at midday. Across the UK, prominent buildings and landmarks, such as Tate Britain and the Welsh Parliament, will light up at 8pm and the public are encouraged to take part in a candle-lit doorstep vigil.
The day will also see a series of free online talks and conversations featuring expert panels produced by the Good Grief Festival.
According to the latest figures there have been 143,259 COVID-related UK deaths since spring 2020. The RCN estimates that at least 952 health and social care workers have died in the pandemic.
In a Marie Curie survey of 2,003 people, 941 (47%) of respondents said they had known someone who had died of COVID-19, including family members, acquaintances and work colleagues.
Grieving process has been curtailed for many
The survey also found that of those 941 people, 527 (56%) reported they did not have a chance to grieve or fully process their grief.
The research was carried out online by market research company Opinion Matters between 26 February and 3 March 2021.
Marie Curie executive director Meredith Niles said: ‘The National Day of Reflection gives us a moment to contemplate our collective loss, as well as take time to support those close to us, who are dealing with feelings of isolation and bereavement.’
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