Professor Jane Cummings has said this year’s Health and Care Innovation Expo will highlight how nursing leadership can transform care of the future.

Writing in a blog today, the Chief Nursing Officer for England explains how “nursing, midwifery and care staff, whatever their role, wherever they work can all lead change and add value across the health and care system.“

She adds: ““During a recent visit to a hospital, the staff were looking at improvement and when I asked how they found time to do it, the CEO said they couldn’t afford not to do it. This brought home to me just how important it is that we make time for future care.”

“Despite the daily pressures they are under, I hope that nurses can take some time to reflect and spend time reviewing what the future opportunities are and how we have a vital role to play in both shaping these and helping to implement them.”

Referring to the Leading Change, Adding Value (LCAV) framework, which aims to deliver better outcomes, experiences and use of resources, Professor Cummings adds:  “We all know there is an incredible amount of work happening over the next couple of years. Nursing, midwifery and care staff are central to this and offer us an opportunity to truly demonstrate what we bring to the table.”

The framework will be the focus of a dedicated pop-up university session at Expo featuring how staff are working differently and innovatively to lead change, improving outcomes and experience for individuals.

NHS England Chief Executive Simon Stevens and Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt top the line-up of leading national speakers at this year’s Health and Care Innovation Expo 2017 being staged at Manchester Central on September 11th and 12th – the most significant health and social care event of the year and expected to attract 5,500 delegates.

Nursing leadership is well represented in four crucial programmes to help transform the provision of care: Cancer, Mental Health, Primary Care and Urgent and Emergency Care, which will all features at Expo, as will Maternity and Transforming Care for people with Learning Disabilities are also key priorities.

Professor Cummings will lead a main stage session on the importance of nurse leadership in transforming care for individuals with mental health issues and learning disabilities.

Vicky Stobbart, Executive Director of Nursing and Quality, Guildford and Waverley CCG will join a panel of experts to discuss the reality of current challenges, as well as significant opportunities that lie ahead, focusing on the role of nurses to transform care.

Claire Murdoch, NHS England’s National Mental Health Director, will highlight the significant leadership role of nursing and care staff to improve outcomes for individuals with mental health issues and their vital contribution in the delivery of the Mental Health Forward View.

Expo will also feature a focus on General Practice Nursing in the Primary Care Zone, while other sessions will include the importance of carers and enabling them to support family and friends, and one on the vital role staff play in safeguarding vulnerable individuals. A main stage session on the Maternity Transformation Programme will also demonstrate the fundamentally important role of midwives and the wider team in transforming the delivery of maternity services of the future.

• Read more on Expo 2017 in Jane Cummings’ blog
• Early-bird delegate rates are still available for Expo 2017 with NHS, local government and public sector staff able to secure complimentary access.
• You can get regular updates on twitter @ExpoNHS