Chief Nurse leads salute in message to NHS staff recognising nurses and midwives

Chief Nurse, Elaine Inglesby-Burke CBE at the Northern Care Alliance NHS Group

Every year the nursing and midwifery professions are recognised across the country, and the world, for the invaluable role of midwives and nurses based in hospitals and in the community.

On Sunday 12 May, the Northern Care Alliance NHS Group which runs five hospitals and associated community services in Salford, Oldham, Bury, Rochdale and North Manchester (bringing together Salford Royal and Pennine Acute Trusts) will be celebrating International Nurses’ Day.

The NCA Group employs over 7,000 nurses and midwives.

Chief Nurse, Elaine Inglesby-Burke CBE at the Northern Care Alliance NHS Group, said: “On behalf of our Executive Board and the patients and families we provide services for, I would like to take this opportunity to convey a huge thank you and appreciation to our 7,000 plus nursing, midwives and care support staff. You are the heartbeat of our services provided across the Northern Care Alliance. 

“For those who are not nurses or not aware of the significance of this event, it is celebrated around the world on this date every year - the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. Although Florence was born in 1820, the values she held whilst nursing wounded soldiers in the Crimean War and the high standards of care and cleanliness she expected still hold true today for all nursing staff across the world. 

“For those who know me, I am sure you get how proud I am to be a nurse. I am also proud to work with and alongside nursing and midwifery staff of all levels that work across our Group. Whether you are one of our trainee or newly qualified nurses, whether you work in one of our five hospitals, out in the community, in research, quality improvement, or within a corporate team, the values you hold, and your care, compassion and professionalism make a real difference to our patients and those who depend on our services, and their families, often leaving a lasting impression as the face of our organisation and the NHS more generally.”

Last year over 700 nurses and 50 midwives were recruited to work at the group’s five hospitals in Salford, Oldham, Bury, Rochdale, North Manchester and in its community services.

The NCA was also privileged to take part in a national pilot to launch the new trainee nursing associate roles. This new role bridges the gap between a support worker and a graduate registered nurse.  Forty-four nursing associates have recently qualified from the University of Salford and the University of Bolton and are now busy working on wards and departments across the group’s hospitals.

Suzanne Drury, lead for clinical workforce transformation, said: “Our new Nursing Associates will play a key role within nursing teams.  They will work with our healthcare assistants and registered nurses to deliver first class care to patients.  Their role will provide vital support to registered nurses, with their duties including a variety of clinical tasks including cannulation, venepuncture and ECGs.  They will also perform and record key clinical observations such as blood pressure, temperature, respirations and pulse checks, all of which will help to improve the care patients receive onwards.”