The public has been asked to “shine a light” on Tuesday to mark International Nurses Day, the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale and to recognise their efforts to tackle coronavirus.

The request is in recognition of the World Health Organization having designated 2020 as International Year of the Nurse to mark the bicentenary of Florence Nightingale’s birth.

Professor Westwood, from the Florence Nightingale Foundation, said: “Nurses have been on the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic, providing expert care and support to patients and their families during these uncertain times.

“Florence Nightingale, herself a trailblazer during her career, would have been proud at the way nurses have followed in her footsteps as pioneers and leaders in the fight against the pandemic. They are truly her legacy today.”

In addition, to mark International Nurses Day and Florence Nightingale’s bicentenary, an image of her and a message of thanks will be projected on to her place of work, St Thomas’s Hospital, from parliament.

It will also be projected onto the British Embassy in Rome and the Italian Federation of Nurses between 9pm and 11pm.

Another figure from the Crimean War, though often overlooked, is Mary Seacole. We have seen temporary Nightingale hospitals open but not a Seacole one. There is a permanent hospital named the Seacole Centre opening this month to mark the part Mary played and a memorial statue of Seacole was erected in 2016 in her honour at London's St Thomas' hospital. The Royal College of Nursing recently put Mary Seacole’s contribution on the same footing as Florence Nightingale’s.