England’s chief nurse unveils £130,000 funding to develop primary care nurse leaders

Ruth May also outlines new network for care home staff at Queen’s Nursing Institute conference

England’s chief nursing officer (CNO) Ruth May has announced funding of £130,000 to develop the primary care nurse leaders of the future.

She told the Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) conference in London that there would also be a new programme – run by NHS England and NHS Improvement in partnership with the QNI – to support all nurses in primary care networks, which would focus on leadership, strategy, finance and governance.

Care home network and e-learning tool

Dr May also spoke of a new CNO Care Home Network across England, also run in partnership with the QNI, to ensure registered nurses working in care homes felt ‘part of team CNO’.

In another announcement, she said the NHS would soon launch an e-learning tool, Act Now, which would include suggested actions that nurses can take to help reduce avoidable admissions and delayed transfers of care, and improve communication.

Plans for Wales and Northern Ireland

Dr May was joined at the QNI conference by Wales CNO Jean White and Northern Ireland CNO Charlotte McArdle.

Professor White said Wales would be placing a larger focus on improving community care.

Professor McArdle said that although Northern Ireland did not have a functioning assembly, the launch of a ten-year plan for health in the country in 2016 had provided a blueprint with which to work to enhance services. 

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