New Deputy Chief Nursing Officer, UK

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 23 Nov 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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David Foster has been appointed to the post of Deputy Chief Nursing Officer at the Department of Health, it was announced today.

David will replace Deputy Chief Nursing Officer, Janice Sigsworth, who left the Department of Health in October this year. The appointment will take effect on 1 December.

David's new role will focus on modernising nursing careers and driving up the quality of nursing and midwifery care as part of the Next Stage Review that set out reforms to the NHS.

He has been working in the Chief Nursing Officer's team at the Department of Health since April 2008. His recent work has included responsibility for midwifery, acute care, workforce, education and clinical academic training issues.

David came to the Department of Health from Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust where he was Director of Non-medical Postgraduate Development.  Prior to that, he was Director of Nursing at Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust for a number of years during which time he also chaired the Association of UK University Hospitals Directors of Nursing Group for a two-year term.

A registered nurse and midwife, David spent much of his clinical career in intensive care and midwifery before embarking on his management career.  He also has a particular interest in research and was awarded a PhD for his research into developing nurses as managers. David is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

David Foster said:

"I am looking forward to taking up my new role and the challenges that this will bring. There are tremendous opportunities to drive up the quality of nursing and midwifery care as part of the Next Stage Review which will improve the lives of both staff and patients."

Christine Beasley, Chief Nursing Officer said:

"I am delighted that David is being promoted to the role of Deputy Chief Nursing Officer at the Department of Health. David has extensive experience in taking forward the development of nursing and midwifery outlined in the Next Stage Review which will prove invaluable."

"David joined my team in April this year and has already completed important work developing a strategy to enhance the quality of midwifery care as part of the Next Stage Review."

-- Janice Sigsworth has left the Department of Health to take up a new role as Director of Nursing at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.

-- David Foster biography:

David Foster was appointed Deputy Chief Nursing Officer through open competition. David trained in nursing at the Middlesex Hospital, London and in midwifery at Falkirk and Stirling Royal Infirmaries, Forth Valley Health Board in Scotland. His postgraduate studies include intensive care nursing, an MSc in management and PhD awarded for his research into developing nurses as managers. He also has a diploma in personnel management and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

David's clinical career in intensive care and midwifery was followed by a management career which encompassed both nursing and general management responsibilities much of which was at The Whittington Hospital in north London. During this time he gained particular expertise in reviewing and rationalising services and negotiating education contracts.

As Director of Nursing at Hammersmith Hospitals David was instrumental in establishing systematic audit and processes of patient involvement which led to service improvements. During this time he was an active member of the Association of UK University Hospitals Directors of Nursing Group which he chaired for a term of two years. He has also served on a number of committees in London and nationally with a particular interest in improving midwifery services, electronic prescribing, education and research.

  Department of Health , UK