HM The Queen's opening speech at the Queen Silvia Nursing Award

Thank you for joining us today at the Bernadotte Library for this very special 10th anniversary celebration.

Since long we celebrate International Nurses Day around the world on twelfth of May, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth. It has eventually become a week long celebration.

To you dear winners of the 2022 Queen Silvia Nursing Award - it is with great pleasure that I stand before you today to express my deep gratitude for your contribution of ideas and innovations for those affected by dementia.

Nursing is a demanding profession that requires a significant level of dedication and sacrifice. You are essential to all healthcare systems and play a vital role in improving patient outcomes and promoting public health. You put in long hours away from your family, and expose yourself to countless emotional and physical demands every day. We must take care of you so that you can continue to take care of us.

As we know and learned from yesterday´s conference, dementia is a condition that can be both devastating and challenging. Not only for those who are diagnosed with it, but also for their families and loved ones. The care and support provided by our nurses and care professionals is invaluable, and we are forever indebted to their knowledge, commitment and expertise.

Skilled dementia care involves caring for people who often have multiple health conditions. They are more vulnerable to illnesses, injuries, and disabilities on top of cognitive impairment. The care is complex and multi-faceted. By valuing nurses, we show that we value their work and their knowledge. What is most important, we acknowledge the dignity and worth of each individual patient.

To you – nursing and care professionals – I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your dedication and service to our society is immeasurable, and we are forever grateful for your tireless efforts.

Congratulations!