WIREDGOV

The Prime Minister’s Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery is today holding a listening event at the City of Manchester Stadium.

It will be hearing the views of local and recent patients, residents of Manchester and carers on nursing and midwifery and finding out what they’d like to see nurses and midwives doing more of or differently in the future.

The listening event, which is part of the Commission’s wider engagement process, will give the ten Commissioners attending the opportunity to meet participants face-to-face and hear their views on:

What the skills and attributes of the ‘ideal’ nurse or midwife are;What nurses and midwives could do more of or do differently in the future; andWhat might be preventing nurses and midwives from doing this now.

Those involved will also be able to share their own experiences of nursing and midwifery care, their experiences of accessing care, and their views on the public image of these professions.

Ann Keen, Health Minister and Chair of the Commission said:

“Nurses and midwives are at the heart of England’s health services and are relied upon to provide safe, compassionate and high quality care. We know that patients and the public continue to want professionals to provide this service, yet we are also aware that the context in which care is given has changed enormously and will continue to change.

“With this in mind, we need to look now at how we can shape the future of the profession to ensure that we maintain the impressive record of nursing and midwifery achievements. Today’s listening event is part of our wider engagement process and one of the first steps towards helping to ensure that nurses and midwives can be empowered and supported to deliver high quality care for all.”

All views and evidence will be added to the submissions currently coming in from the public consultation launched by the Commission on May 10.

The submissions will then be analysed and these will then be fed back to professions and the public during a second engagement phase in the autumn, which will include a national deliberative event.

The final report with recommendations will be submitted to the Prime Minister by March 2010.

Further submissions are welcome and should be received by August 10, at www.cnm.independent.gov.uk

Notes to Editors

Photographs from the listening event will be available for publication.
Images of the consultation leaflet and poster are also available for publication on request.
Please contact Sarah Read at the Department of Health for more information on 020 7210 5447.

1) The Prime Minister launched the Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery on March 10, 2009. It is due to report by March 2010. It covers England only, and considers midwifery and all branches of nursing, in all settings, services and sectors.

2) The PM has asked the Commission to do the following:

Identify the competencies, skills and support that frontline nurses and midwives Identify any barriers that impede the pivotal role that ward sisters/charge nurses/community team leaders provide. Identify the potential and benefits for nurses and midwives, particularly in primary and community care, of leading and managing their own services. Engage with the professions, patients and the public to identify challenges and opportunities for nurses and midwives.

3) The Commissioners are 20 leaders in nursing and midwifery practice, management, education and research. For more information, please see the following link: http://cnm.independent.gov.uk/abo ut-us/

4) The Commission held its 3 rd meeting in Manchester on July 14.