There will be an enhancement of nursing leadership across the NHS as part of NHS modernisation plans, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has announced. The chief nursing officer role will sit on the NHS Commissioning Board and there will also be a director of nursing in the Department of Health, with a greater public health focus.
Details of the senior structures for the Department and the Commissioning Board are due to be published soon and, following a recruitment exercise over the summer, it is planned that both posts will be filled by October. The Chief Nursing Officer, Dame Christine Beasley has agreed to remain in the post on a part-time basis until October 2011 to help oversee the transition. She will continue to be supported during this period by the two current deputy chief nursing officers and strategic health authority nursing directors. Commenting on the changes, Lansley said: “Good nursing care is a central pillar of the NHS and strong nursing leadership must be at the heart of this. These enhanced nursing roles will help us achieve our central principles – putting patients first and transferring responsibility to the front line.” Dame Christine Beasley said: “Being Chief Nursing Officer for England has been a great privilege and for the last six years I have strived to constantly improve patient care. The dedication, passion, and innovative approaches of thousands of nurses and midwives have helped achieve this. I am pleased I will continue to be supported by my two senior deputy CNOs in providing leadership and support to the profession until the new post holders are appointed.”
