QUALIFIED nurse Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, will rally her parliamentary colleagues in Holyrood this week to celebrate International Nurses Day.

Ms Harper, who is one of four sisters who are all nurses, will lead the debate to mark International Nurses Day which falls on May 12 – the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth.

Registered nurse and member of the Royal College of Nursing, Ms Harper, who has worked across the UK and in the US, praised the contribution nurses make to the entire healthcare system.

She said: “The work of nurses is invaluable to NHS Scotland.

“They provide autonomous and collaborative care for people of all ages, from individuals, to families, and to whole communities.

“The services that they provide are essential to all stages of healthcare, from promotion of health and prevention of illness to the care of people who are ill, disabled, and who are dying.

“Nurses here in Scotland and across the world do excellent work every day, balancing these demands with equanimity.

“I am thankful to our nurses in NHS Scotland and nurses across the world.

“And I am delighted to have the opportunity to support them by leading this debate on International Nurses Day.”