News

Next chief nursing officer for Wales is named

Sue Tranka will take over from outgoing CNO Jean White 
Sue Tranka, newly appointed chief nursing officer for Wales

Sue Tranka brings three decades of senior leadership and front-line clinical experience to the role

Sue Tranka, newly appointed chief nursing officer for Wales
Sue Tranka has been named the next chief nurse for Wales

A new chief nursing officer (CNO) for Wales has been appointed to replace Jean White, who retired after a decade in the role.

Sue Tranka, currently deputy chief nursing officer for patient safety and innovation at NHS England and NHS Improvement, will take over from interim CNO Gareth Howells in August.

Key policy adviser

In her new role, she will advise Welsh government ministers on nursing and midwifery matters and work with healthcare regulators and the UK’s other CNOs on matters affecting the profession.

NHS Leadership Academy alumna

Ms Tranka was formerly chief nurse at Ashford and St Peter’s NHS Foundation Trust in Surrey and held senior leadership positions at other trusts in England in addition to front-line clinical roles in a career spanning almost 30 years.

She is a graduate of the NHS Leadership Academy’s Stepping Up programme for leaders from black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds. She is the UK’s first chief nurse of minority ethnic heritage.

She said support for nursing and midwifery colleagues had never been more important than now.

‘I am honoured and privileged to be taking up the role of the chief nursing officer for Wales. It is exciting to be joining the team as we look to the future and build on the learning from the past year’, she added.

NHS Wales chief executive Andrew Goodall, said: ‘I look forward to working with Sue in her new role. Her extensive knowledge will help support the nursing and midwifery teams across Wales as we look to the future.’

RCN Wales director Helen Whyley said Ms Tranka's appointment was 'another outstanding first for Wales' and that nurses from a black, Asian and miniority ethnic background will be pleased to be represented at the highest level in nursing.

'Wales has had some great successes for nursing care under the previous CNO professor Jean White, including the implementation of the Nurse Staffing Levels (Wales) Act 2016,' she added.

'The RCN has a long history of working closely with the office of the chief nursing officer for Wales to improve care and enhance the working lives of nursing professionals and we look forward to continuing this relationship with the new CNO Sue Tranka.'


In other news

Jobs