Professor Dame Hilary Chapman, chief nurse of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has been presented with a top honour from the Royal College of Nursing.
Hilary, who began her nursing career at the Northern General Hospital, received a Fellowship at the College’s 2018 Congress after being nominated from peers across the country for her outstanding commitment to nursing and improving healthcare.
The merit is the highest given by the Royal College of Nursing – the largest professional nursing body in the world.
Prof Chapman, who was described by the Royal College of Nursing General Secretary Janet Davies as “a passionate voice for nursing”, was honoured in recognition of her major contribution to health policy, healthcare delivery and safer nursing care.
Prof Chapman has played a key part in many nursing innovations that have gone on to be adopted nationally. This includes the co-development of the National Safer Care Tool, which is now used widely in hospitals throughout the UK, and helps NHS organisations determine safe nurse staffing levels on acute hospital wards depending on patient needs and how sick or dependent patients are.
She has also represented the nursing profession in many national and international forums, including on bodies such as the National Quality Board, the Secretary of State’s Sounding Board and most recently as a member of the Clinical Advisory Group to Monitor and NHS Improvement.
Hilary, who began her career as a nurse at the Northern General Hospital, continues to undertake at least one clinical shift a month at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.
Prof Chapman, who will be retiring from her post in August of this year after 32 years of service within the NHS, said: “I am enormously proud to have been given this highly esteemed Fellowship. I have been a member of the Royal College of Nursing since I was a student, so to be joining an outstanding group of nurses who have made a real difference to others and to be recognised by my peers is humbling. I am so proud of my profession.”
Each year the Royal College of Nursing awards Fellowships to registered nurses in the UK who have made an exceptional contribution to nursing and/or health care.
They were first awarded in 1976, and each year they are given out at a special ceremony at the Royal College of Nursing’s Congress.
