Share your voice with the future
NHS England’s Director of Nursing looks ahead to the keynote speech being delivered at Expo 2015 by Jane Cummings, Chief Nursing Officer for England:
This is an exciting time to be talking about what the shape of health and social care could look like.
We can take the opportunity presented in the changing landscape to think differently, take Expo 2015 as a chance to open up debate and discussion around how we can work more collaboratively and how we can continue to deliver compassionate and person-centred care in a changing environment.
For nurses, midwives and care staff this is even timelier as we come towards the end of the three year ‘Compassion in Practice’ strategy, and the end of the first year of the Five Year Forward View.
We have come a long way from the days when the ‘Compassion in Practice’ strategy was launched, in the environment of the Francis Report and the changing landscape of the NHS. The strategy has delivered, among others, the development of an open and honest care programme for maternity services, a barometer for organisations to gauge their culture of care, researched shift patterns and launched resources to raise concerns.
With this solid basis, and new opportunities opening up, I am looking forward to the keynote speech by Jane Cummings, Chief Nursing Officer for England, at Expo on Thursday.
As professional lead, Jane will be sharing how to engage in shaping our future vision to follow on from ‘Compassion in Practice’.
We have the chance to shift the focus from an organisationally-led strategy to one that recognises and embraces other clinical professions as well as those we work with, are supported by, and who experience and receive our care.
Through rounded debate and working together, we can think about what it is we want to see, what our priorities are, and think about developing a vision that provides a framework and gives us a direction of travel not just for the next five years, but the next few decades.
It is a big ask, but now is the time to take hold of the possibilities available to us and, as a profession, take ownership of our own role in delivering compassionate care and the core priorities of the Five Year Forward View.
I encourage you to get involved and engage with us.
Look out for Twitter chats and webinars via WeNurses and 6Cs Live! using #ourvision and email your views to: england.ourvision@nhs.net
It is your voice that will help us to shape this future and develop a vision that truly embraces all.
Hilary Garratt
Hilary Garratt CBE, BSc, MSc, RGN, SCPHN (RHV), PGCE is the Deputy Chief Nursing Officer NHS England and NHS Improvement.
Hilary leads the implementation of a range of national programmes that focus on safeguarding vulnerable people and programmes that support the professional development and leadership of the nursing profession.
Hilary is a registered Nurse and Health Visitor, with 36 years’ experience of working in clinical, public health and Executive leadership roles in the NHS. Hilary has held a number of Executive Director posts across both commissioning and provider organisations in addition to holding and Deputy Chief Executive post for both. Hilary has been working at National Director level for the last 7 years.
In addition to her professional life, Hilary enjoys volunteering at the front line and also for the third sector. From 2013 – 2017 Hilary worked for BBC Children in Need as a committee member that undertook grant making for the North of England. Hilary also engages in hands on volunteering, working with the homeless and other vulnerable groups in her home city.
Hilary received a CBE in the 2017 New Years Honours for services to Nursing and her national work to safeguard some of the most vulnerable people in society. In 2018 Hilary was nominated as one of the country’s 400 Women of Achievement and Inspiration.
Follow Hilary on Twitter: @HilaryGarratt.