Nurses raised the roof at West Middlesex Hospital to mark the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth on Tuesday (May 12).

The hospital atrium was buzzing with men and women who were celebrating International Nurses Day which is held on this day every year in memory of the founder of modern nursing.

Opened by the hospital's chief executive, Jacqueline Totterdell, crowds gathered as the live entertainment kicked off with the West Mid Filipino nurses choir, followed by a fashion show from the African nurses as well as special performance by singer Dexter Cases, an A&E staff nurse.

Patients, staff and the public were also treated to a spread of Filipino food.

Sister Annie Redwood, senior resuscitation officer, transformed into Florence Nightingale, while sister Faustina Annan-Addae, TB lead nurse, dressed up as rival Mary Seacole and visited every patient and staff in the hospital's wards.

Charlotte Hall, director of nursing and midwifery, who went along with Florence and Mary, said: “International Nurses Day has been a fantastic occasion at West Mid and it was great to see so many staff celebrating the wonderful work of all our nurses.

"Thank you to everyone who helped make it such an enjoyable day for our patients and staff.”