Prime Minister's Commission On The Future Of Nursing And Midwifery Meet For The First Time, UK

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 03 May 2009 - 0:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

Health Minister, Ann Keen chaired the first meeting of the Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery.

The Commission, consisting of leading experts in the field of nursing, will:

- Identify the competencies, skills and support that frontline nurses and midwives need in the design and delivery of 21st century services for those that are sick and to promote health and well-being. In particular, to identify any barriers that impede the pivotal role that wards sisters/charge nurses/community team leaders provide;

- Identify the potential and benefits for nurses and midwives particularly in primary and community care leading and managing their own services; and

- Engage with the professions, patients and the public in an interactive and robust dialogue which will identify challenges and opportunities for nurses and midwives.

More nurses and midwives are working in health services than ever before and they have greater responsibilities in most areas of clinical care. The Commission has been set up to consider how to build on their expanding roles to help them contribute even further to delivering high quality health care.

At the first meeting, the Commission considered how the NHS Constitution linked to the role of nurses and midwives, identified the Commission's priorities for the coming months and discussed its vital role in engaging with the patients, public and the professions. Health Minister, Ann Keen said,

"As a nurse, I know that nurses and midwives are at heart of our health service providing patients with safe, compassionate and high quality care. Their roles are evolving to include greater responsibilities including prescribing, referring patients to other healthcare professionals and delivering community services.

"I was privileged to Chair the first meeting of the Commission and Midwifery today. The Commission is clear that there must be effective engagement and communication with key stakeholders, in particular patients and the public in taking our work forward. We are looking forward to listening to their views in the coming months, which will be instrumental in shaping our final report".

The Commission will be engaging with the profession, patients and the public in a series of local and national events in the next few months. Further details of these events will be published on the new Commission website which will be launched in May.

The Commission will report to the Prime Minister by March 2010.

Notes

1. The full list of commissioners is set below :

Chair - Ann Keen Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health
Gail Adams
Dame Christine Beasley OBE
Sue Bernhauser
Dr Kuldip Bharj OBE
Dawn Chapman MBE
Baroness Audrey Emerton DBE
Dame Liz Fradd DBE
Judith Griffin
Dame Donna Kinnair DBE
Heather Lawrence
Jo Pritchard
Janice Sigsworth
Tamar Thompson
Professor Cathy Warwick CBE
Ray Walker
Professor Laura Serrant-Green PhD MA BA RGN PGCE
Eileen Sills
Claire Rayner
Dr Peter Carter OBE
Professor Anne-Marie Rafferty CBE

The Commission will also be supported by expert advisors.

2. The Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery was established by the Prime Minister on 10th March 2009. See here.

Source
Department of Health, UK

• Additional
• References
• Citations