Since I launch my campaign on Sunday evening for Mary Seacole to be name after the NEC as second COVID-19 hospital in the UK over 6000 people have signed the petition below
https://www.change.org/p/matt-hancock-mp-the-secretary-of-state-for-health-and-care-the-nec-in-birmingham-should-be-called-the-nhs-seacole

There has been increasing media interest in the campaign. Please find the latest news story today

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/thousands-back-campaign-name-nec-18020411 

The campaign has also sparked the demand for other hospitals in Cardiff, Manchester and Glasgow not to be called Nightingale but instead recognising regional and national nursing heroines.

Today Nicola Sturgeon, The First Minster of Scotland announced that the Scottish Exhibition Centre in Glasgow will be turned into a temporary hospital, with the potential capacity for 1000 patients which will be named after Louisa Jordan. Louisa was born in Maryhill and served as a nurse with the Scottish Women’s Hospital in Serbia during WW1.

It is important that you sign the Seacole petition and share this with your networks. We still have time to convince Matt Hancock, The Secretary State for Health and Care and Sir Simon Stevens the Chief Executive of NHS England to change their mind.

Sadly, with the recent deaths of 4 BAME NHS clinicians it is important that we work together and stay safe together. Having NEC named after Mary Seacole will also be a fitting tribute reflecting the diversity and inclusion of the NHS.

Please sign and share the petition https://www.change.org/p/matt-hancock-mp-the-secretary-of-state-for-health-and-care-the-nec-in-birmingham-should-be-called-the-nhs-Seacole 

Patrick Vernon OBE