At the end of the year and as we approach a new one, I have been reflecting on nurses and midwives contribution to 'the public's health': What have we achieved in 2012 and what are the opportunities for 2013? In 2012 we saw the establishment of the Director of Nursing role in Department of Health and in Public Health England - real statements of the importance that those organisations place on nurses and midwives roles in improving and protecting health and wellbeing. I feel very privileged to be in these roles, leading this work and to have had so much support from nurses and midwives.
In launching "Compassion in Practice," Jane Cummings, CNO, and I were determined to ensure we focussed on both good care experience and best possible health outcomes for the people we serve in care, and on care delivered at individual community and population levels. I would like to take this opportunity to express our thanks to everyone who participated in developing the vision and strategy and especially our 6Cs champions and Caremakers.
In the New Year we will be taking the next steps to implementation and delivering the vision through the 6 action areas, which are the priorities to achieve better care and better health outcomes. We have committed to having detailed action plans by March 2013.
Action Area One is focused on supporting independence and maximising health and wellbeing. We already have great deal of work underway (see our visuals in previous blog!) and I am looking forward to working with specialist public health nurses and midwives as leaders of this work, and with nurses and midwives across the health and care system, to make 'every contact count' in improving the health and wellbeing of the population.
I would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year
