'Lady with lamp' service revived

Florence Nightingale became famous for her Crimean War nursing

Nurses in Swansea have renewed a "lady with the lamp" service which they say symbolises their profession's values and the story of Florence Nightingale.

The service involves nurses at various stages in their career passing a lit solid silver lamp to each other.

Sunday's event, at St Mary's Church, was the first in the city for 15 years.

It marked the 60th anniversary of the NHS and the merger of Swansea and Bro Morgannwg NHS trusts to become Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University NHS Trust.

A Florence Nightingale service was last held in Swansea in the mid-1990s.

The nurses taking part process to the church altar carrying the lamp, which was crafted in 1960, and was modelled on the one which Florence Nightingale used during her efforts to improve conditions for the wounded during the Crimean War in the 1850s.

This service gives us the opportunity to incorporate the Florence Nightingale procession which captures the essence of nursing and the care which is at the very heart of our profession Liz Rix, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University NHS Trust

The lamp was used for the first time in a Florence Nightingale service on 12 May, 1960.

Liz Rix, interim director of nursing at the new trust, said the service was a special way of celebrating the "essential role nurses have played" throughout the 60 years of the NHS.

She said: "This service gives us the opportunity to incorporate the Florence Nightingale procession which captures the essence of nursing and the care which is at the very heart of our profession."

Meinir Jones, who retired in 1993 as assistant director of nursing at Swansea NHS Trust, volunteered to help choreograph the service.

She said: "I helped to organise Florence Nightingale services in the past, but I thought that was behind me and I hadn't expected to be involved in one again.

"The service is very lovely, and hugely symbolic. I'm delighted it is being held again."

The silver lamp will pass from a nurse about to retire, to colleagues with different levels to experience, and ending with a student nurse.

Sunday afternoon's service was open to the public.