12th May 2025
Today is International Nurses Day (#IND2025) – a day to celebrate and raise the profile of nursing, and to recognise the brilliant contributions that nurses across the globe make to the lives of so many. At the iHV, we are delighted to have Duncan Burton, Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) for England, shine a spotlight on the important role of health visitors and public health nursing on this very special day in the nursing calendar.
Ahead of International Nurses Day, Duncan spent some time with the Homerton Health Visiting Service in Hackney hearing about their work – their innovations and successes, as well as the challenges of working in inner city London as health visitors at this time. Duncan met their Neighbourhood teams who provide invaluable support to babies, children and families in their homes and communities, ensuring babies and children get the best start in life.
During Duncan’s time with the Homerton Health Visiting Service, he also accompanied Claudia, a health visitor, on her visit to a family in their home. As is usual in inner London, health visitors complete their visits on foot (sometimes on bicycles or using public transport), and Duncan walked with Claudia through the streets of Hackney and was welcomed with the health visitor into the family’s home. He was able to see first-hand the vital work of health visitors and hear directly from the family about the difference that their health visitor had made to them in their parenting journey so far, supporting them across a breadth of different needs.
Thanks to the generous support of the Homerton Health Visiting Service and the family involved, you can watch a short film on Duncan’s visit and listen to his message to all nurses on International Nurses Day which he shared on his X channel to mark the day:
During Duncan’s visit, he highlighted how health visitors, alongside all nurses and midwives, will have an integral role to play in delivering the 10-Year Health Plan for the NHS, including how we can help transform the delivery of care and create an NHS that is fit for the future.
Duncan’s video for International Nurses Day reiterates this and he speaks highly of the nursing profession, highlighting the strong and proud history we have and the importance of retaining the fundamentals of our profession. He also speaks about the need to keep evolving to meet the needs of our changing population, and the advancement of scientific and technological discovery – recognising the excellence that is taking place across the country with many health visitors and nurses leading innovations, driving improvements and delivering solutions.
Duncan’s visit meant such a lot to the Homerton Health Visiting Service. Health visitors’ work is often hidden behind front doors, and we know it will mean a lot to health visitors across England to have their work profiled by our CNO for England on International Nurses Day 2025.
Duncan Burton, CNO for England, said:
“Joining Claudia on a home visit was a great opportunity for me to see how health visitors use their unique expertise and experience to support the health and wellbeing of local families and help ensure babies and children get the best start in life.
“Thank you to the whole team at Homerton Health Visiting Service for taking the time to share your experiences with me, as well as your ideas for how we can attract more people into this vital profession.
“Supporting people throughout their lives and across all settings, including people’s homes, schools and communities, all nurses, midwives and health visitors have an important role in protecting and supporting the health of our nation now and for the future. International Nurses Day is an opportunity to recognise the difference our entire profession makes to people’s lives and our communities every single day.”
Alison Morton, iHV CEO, said:
“International Nurses Day 2025 is a day of celebration, as we shine a spotlight on all health visitors and nurses working in health visiting teams across the UK and beyond. Thank you for all that you give to the babies, children and families you serve, and for your leadership in driving change for the better. As the greatest threats to global health are from conditions that are largely preventable, nations across the world are increasingly recognising the value and potential of health visitors and public health nursing – prevention and early intervention really is better than cure, and the evidence is clear, this needs to start in the earliest years of life.
“This year, I am especially delighted that our Chief Nursing Officer for England has chosen to draw attention to the vital work of health visitors for International Nurses Day 2025. Duncan Burton was full of praise for the professionalism, dedication and skills of the brilliant health visitors he met in Homerton – and for all health visitors and nurses working in health visiting teams across the UK.”
Abimbola Alabi, Neighbourhood Health Visitor Manager for Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“The Homerton Health Visiting team was pleased to host Duncan Burton, Chief Nursing Officer for England. The visit gave the team a great opportunity to showcase the vital role of health visitors. Mr Burton also had the opportunity to go on a home visit with one of our health visitors which offered an invaluable insight into the early identification of needs and the impact of timely intervention for children and family across the city and Hackney.”
Georgina Mayes, iHV Health Visiting Professional Lead (Policy and Quality), said:
“Ahead of International Nurses Day, I was delighted to facilitate Duncan Burton’s visit with the Homerton Health Visiting Service. I really valued hearing about the innovative and inspiring work the service is doing to improve the lives of babies, children and families in Hackney. I feel proud to be a health visitor and to be part of such a wonderful health visiting community.”
A heartfelt thank you to the Homerton Health Visiting Service for hosting Duncan’s visit and to the family who kindly invited Duncan into their home.
