Call for Florence Nightingale statue to be given new home

A campaign has been launched to move a statue of Florence Nightingale in Derbyshire amid concerns about anti-social behaviour.

Hundreds of people have signed a petition calling on Derby City Council to move the tribute following reports that a man had been caught urinating on the base of the statue.

Supporters want the monument to be moved from its current home outside the former Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, to a new site at the Royal Derby Hospital.

It is one of three statues in Derbyshire honouring the Crimean War nurse, who spent much of her early life in Derbyshire.

Taking action

Derby resident George Matkin started the petition, which has nearly 600 signatures, after reading about the incident in local newspaper the Derby Telegraph.

Addressing the leader of Derby City Council Ranjit Banwait, Mr Matkin wrote: 'The people of Derby are voicing their opinion and the opinion is that we no longer want to see our Florence Nightingale statue defaced and abused.

‘Therefore we are writing to you in order that you clean her up and show her the respect she deserves by moving her to the Royal Derby Hospital.

‘This way the lady with the lamp can shine her everlasting light on the sick people in our city.’

Ongoing problem

It is not the first time the statue has been the subject of a campaign; in 2014, the council cleaned up the monument following complaints from members of the public.

A Derby City Council spokesperson told Nursing Standard: ’We would consider moving the statue if there was public support and if the planning process allowed because it is a listed statue and subject to strict conditions.’

The petition can be accessed here