Health minister discusses importance of nurses

Nurses and midwives are at the heart of the public health service, it has been claimed.

Health minister Ann Keen made this comment after she chaired the first meeting of the Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery.

Speaking from her own experience, she noted these roles provide patients with high quality, safe and compassionate care.

The duties and responsibilities of the healthcare professionals are changing and will include delivering community services, referring patients and prescribing medication.

Ms Keen asserted she was privileged to chair the first assembly of the organisation.

“The commission is clear that there must be effective engagement and communication with key stakeholders, in particular patients and the public in taking our work forward,” she remarked.

Over the coming months, the group looks forward to hearing the views of others to help them compose a final report, which will be handed to the prime minister by March 2010, Ms Keen concluded.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health announced this week that 220 million pounds has been made available to the NHS to encourage innovative thinking and to help turn ideas into a reality.