Mark Bostridge at the erection of a statue to Mary Seacole at St Thomas' Hospital in London. In interviews Bostridge explained that he was not opposed to a statue to Seacole but to the siting of it at the hospital where Florence Nightingale founded her nurse training school in 1860, influencing the development of nursing throughout the world. Bostridge argues that Seacole was not a "pioneer nurse" as some of the statue campaigners maintain. He also points to the way in which Nightingale's enormous contributions to public health are now commonly and mistakenly attributed to Seacole by a wide range of British
Florence Nightingale Foundation concerns with a panel of senior nurses and engage in professional debate; a tour of the Florence Nightingale Museum; a visit to the Florence Nightingale Chapel in Westminster Abbey, and attendance at the Annual Florence Nightingale Commemoration Service. The Florence Nightingale Foundation Presentation of Certificates is held biannually and acts as a graduation ceremony for completed scholars. The event is an opportunity to celebrate the impact scholars' work has had on patient care and services. In 2014 the Foundation’s patron Sir Robert Francis was the key note speaker and described Florence Nightingale scholars as the ‘future leaders of the profession’.