Five-star hotel offers Singapore Nurses Day treat to boost spirits of staff at two hospitals as the Lion City celebrates Nurses’ Day. But why does Singapore celebrate Nurses’ Day in August when most other countries – such as the United States – celebrate it in May?
COVID-19
 Many people are struggling with the loneliness of staying at home during the coronavirus pandemic. However, nurses have an even bigger burden to bear.
As front=line health care workers, nurses are directly engaged in treating patients suffering from COVID-19. That in itself can already be a challenge.
But the nurses themselves are also at a higher level of risk than the general population.
As a result, nurses are much more likely to suffer insomnia, depression, and anxiety.
Singapore Nurses Day Treat
In a bid to show appreciation to these courageous medical professionals, a five-star hotel offers Singapore Nurses Day treats to brighten the day of nurses and raise their spirits.
In celebration of Nurses Day, which falls on 1 August in Singapore, chefs at Royal Plaza on Scotts whipped up 3,000 portions of chocolate pudding.
And it presented them to nursing staff at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) and National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID).
The decadent treats were freshly-made by chefs of Carousel, the hotel’s popular buffet restaurant.
They were delivered on 3 and 5 August. And each serving came with a thank-you note hand-written by hotel employees.
“This is an unprecedented time for all of us, be it in the hospitality or healthcare industry,” says Patrick Fiat, General Manager and Chief Experience Officer (CEO) of Royal Plaza on Scotts.
“The sweet treats are our way of saying thank you to the nurses for their hard work and dedication during this difficult period and we hope that these will bring some joy to them.”
According to Yong Keng Kwang, Chief Nurse at the National Healthcare Group (NHG), Singapore’s nursing community was highly appreciative of the gesture.
“Nurses draw considerable strength from the support and encouragement of members of public!” he says.
“TTSH-NCID nurses sincerely thank Royal Plaza on Scotts for your acknowledgement of our conviction… Your chocolate puddings are simply delicious and energizing!”
In fact, the move reflects the hotel’s on-going commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility.
International Nurses Day
If Singapore celebrates Nurses’ Day on 1 August, most countries celebrate a similar holiday three months earlier.
In fact, International Nurses Day is held on 12 May, which is the birthday of the legendary nurse, Florence Nightingale. She was born on that day in 1820.
The first Nurses Day was held on 12 May 1974 in the United States. And the custom has since spread to several other countries around the world.
So why does Singapore hold its Nurses’ Day in August rather than May?
That is an interesting story!
In the 1800s, Singapore was growing rapidly. As a result, it needed better healthcare and medical services.
Although there were several hospitals, there was an insufficient number of nurses to staff them.
To meet this need, a group of French nuns from the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus were trained to become nurses.
And they began their nursing duties at General Hospital at the Sepoy Lines in the Outram area of the city on 1 August 1885.