Celebrating our professions and the work you do: Introduction from Siobhan Heafield

Introduction from Siobhan Heafield, Regional Chief Nurse, NHS England and NHS Improvement, Midlands region

The Year of the Nurse and Midwife 2020 is our year and is our opportunity to celebrate and champion our nursing and midwifery professions and showcase the incredible, life changing work we do for patients across our health and social care system.

Whilst in ordinary times we would have celebrated together, the events of this year have meant we have had to do things differently, but we still wanted to do something fitting to mark this very special occasion. We have therefore compiled this commemorative e-book which includes stories and videos from nurses, midwives and care support workers from across our region and highlights their contribution and the difference they are making to patients and communities. So, this e-book is a celebration of you and everything you do; it’s recognition of how diverse and vibrant our professions are and how we as nurses and midwives touch people’s lives.

This year we have had an exceptional number of nurses and midwives within our region receiving nominations for the Queen’s Nursing Institute which further demonstrates the exceptionally high standards of care that we deliver as professionals and our commitment to our professions. I am also incredibly proud of the nurses and midwives who have been awarded Member of the Order of the British Empire and Officer of the Order of the British Empire Medals for their services to the NHS and to the profession.

Whilst I hope that you enjoy reading the e-book, I also hope you are able to pause and reflect on all the incredible, hard work you have done, in some of the most unprecedented times we have ever encountered. It’s been, without a doubt an incredibly challenging year which has tested us in so many ways. We remember those of our colleagues and friends who we have lost this year and our thoughts will always be with their families and loved ones.

I would also like to extend my deepest thanks to every single one of you, for your patience, your compassion, your unwavering commitment and support to not only your profession but also to your patients, your colleagues and the people around you. When I read about the work you have done, it makes me feel incredibly proud of each and every one of you and also very proud of our nursing and midwifery professions.

I really hope you find these stories from nurses, midwives and care support workers as inspiring as I do.

Watch Siobhan Heafield’s video introduction below.