As we celebrate International Nurses Day, I’m delighted once again to have this opportunity to offer my thanks and congratulations to you for the outstanding contributions that you make to people’s health and wellbeing.
We celebrate International Nurses Day on the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale. And last year I said that I have no doubt that she would be both proud and astounded at how the profession has developed since her pioneering days. One year on I am even more confident in this view and know that with appropriate resourcing nursing and midwifery can make an even greater contribution to the health and wellbeing of the population.
I say this because as a result of our decision to co-produce our report we have held a large number of workshops with members of your profession. And in particular we’ve sought to engage with frontline staff. The contributions to those workshops have been outstanding demonstrating deeply-held patient-centred values, a desire for training so that you can do more to enhance health and well-being, and frustration that in the current environment you can’t do more.
I’m an economist by training and I’m confident that continued investment in nursing and midwifery will reap handsome dividends for the people you serve.
Our report will be completed in the early summer and I sincerely hope that we can convince policy makers of the changes that are required and which you (and the whole population) deserve.
Once again, on this day of recognition for the outstanding contributions that you make - THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS.
Sir Richard Barnett
Chair
Nursing and Midwifery Task Group
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