International Women’s Day: ‘General practice nursing is filled with remarkable women’

Thousands of nurses and midwives are to be celebrated this weekend as Sunday marks International Women’s Day (IWD).

The global day, celebrated on 8 March, has been around for over 100 years and focuses on celebrating women’s achievements, raising awareness about discrimination, and taking action to forge gender parity.

Healthcare organisations are using the day to celebrate women working in nursing and midwifery and to acknowledge their high level of skills and essential roles.

The chief executive of the Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing (QICN) said the theme of IWD 2026, ‘Give to Gain’, reflects general practice nurses (GPNs) ‘perfectly’.

Give To Gain aims to ‘emphasise the power of reciprocity and support’. Those behind IWD describes the campaign as ‘when people, organisations, and communities give generously, opportunities and support for women increase’. It adds that ‘giving is not a subtraction, it’s intentional multiplication – when women thrive, we all rise’.

Steph Lawrence said: ‘General practice nursing is filled with remarkable women whose dedication and expertise shape the care we all receive.

‘The Give to Gain theme perfectly reflects their journey – every act of compassion, every skill shared, every patient supported not only benefits the community but also enriches the nurses themselves.

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‘Celebrating women in these roles is about recognising the impact they give, the growth they gain, and the inspiration they provide to the next generation of nurses.’

Professor Donna O’Boyle, Nursing and Midwifery Council’s acting executive director of professional practice and a registered nurse, said it’s important to celebrate IWD and is ‘proud’ of the ‘pioneering efforts’ of nurse Ethel Fenwick.

Ms Fenwick, a former matron of St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, spent 32 years campaigning for the state registration of nursing.

Her objectives were to establish a compulsory register of nurses, to standardise training, improve patient safety, and advance the profession. In December 1919, the House of Commons as the Nurses Registration Act was passed.

‘International Women’s Day is an opportunity to recognise the women who care for women and the nurses, midwives and nursing associates delivering high-quality, inclusive care in our communities,’ said Ms O’Boyle.

‘Through an astonishing variety of roles, thank you to the 764,176 women on the register whose skill, compassion and dedication make a difference to people’s lives every day.

‘It’s important we take time to celebrate the positive impact nursing and midwifery professionals have on people and communities across the UK and globally.

‘As the professional regulator, we’re also proud that the pioneering efforts of nurse Ethel Fenwick paved the way for modern nursing regulation and for us nurses to become one of the UK’s most trusted professions.’

Ahead of IWD, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) responded to a new analysis released by the Nuffield Trust’s Summit which revealed that pay for nurses and midwives fell further than any other key NHS staff groups.

The analysis highlighted that nurses and midwives (-13.5% over the last 14 years) are the two most female dominated professions working in the NHS in England and the two worst affected by real terms pay cuts.

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Professor Nicola Ranger, RCN’s general secretary and chief executive, said the analysis provides ‘more evidence’ nursing is ‘undervalued for being female dominated’.

She said: ‘Just days before we mark International Women’s Day, we are handed more evidence that our profession is undervalued for being female dominated. 

‘When nursing and midwifery, the two most female dominated professions in the NHS, are disadvantaged like this there can be little doubt that institutional sex and discrimination has had undue influence on how our profession is recognised and rewarded.

‘Nursing is a safety critical profession, vital to patient wellbeing, the future of our health service and economic growth.

‘The analysis adds to the weight of evidence for a radical overhaul in the treatment of nursing. That couldn’t be more necessary if we are to recruit and retain the highly skilled nurses we need and transform patient care.’

Nottinghamshire Alliance Training Hub, which helps primary care teams have support, insight and resources, said women are the ‘backbone of healthcare’ but they still face inequalities.

The hub said: ‘[Women] make up the majority of the workforce, drive advancements in science and practice, and deliver compassionate care every day.

‘Yet, despite their significant contributions, barriers persist, from leadership gaps to inequalities in research focus and resources.

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‘It’s not just about recognition, it’s about real progress. Women in healthcare often balance professional duties with additional social expectations and caregiving roles. Studies and lived experience show that these challenges can slow career progression and create unequal opportunities.

‘The industry must continue to advocate for workplace cultures that support flexible career paths, equitable advancement, and leadership opportunities for women at all stages.

‘Celebrations and reflections on IWD offer a moment to honour those achievements while pushing for systemic change, in pay, representation, decision‑making and beyond.’