Tags: Duncan Burton

CNO England meets health visiting practitioners: Change NHS Consultation

Earlier this week, the iHV was delighted to welcome Duncan Burton, our Chief Nursing Officer for England, to an open meeting with practitioners from across the country to discuss the opportunities for health visiting in the government’s proposed plans for health care. Duncan joined Professor Jamie Waterall and Lynne Reed, from the Chief Public Health Nursing Directorate in the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, in discussing the importance of nurses, midwives and health visitors having their voices heard in the Change NHS Consultation.

The meeting was held on Monday 11 November, as part of the iHV’s engagement with its members to help shape the iHV response to the consultation.

Alison Morton, iHV CEO, opened the event by highlighting the “crucial moment for health care that has been provided by a new government looking to set their direction of travel for the years ahead. Their ambition is to ‘fix’ the NHS which they describe as ‘broken’. The consultation is asking us to consider how we build a health service fit for the future? And it is great to see a strong emphasis on prevention.”

Focusing on health visiting, Alison asked attendees to consider, “What role does health visiting have to play? And how do we articulate that in our response to the consultation? What are your priorities, the big-ticket items – where can health visiting make the biggest difference?”

Professor Jamie Waterall provided a helpful overview of the consultation to set the scene and encouraged practitioners to complete both an individual response and to help shape the iHV response. The consultation questions focus on the government’s proposed three “shifts” in the way health and care services work in England:

  • Hospital to community
  • Analogue to digital
  • Treatment to prevention

Health visiting has a significant contribution to make in all three of these areas. Both Jamie and Lynne then joined breakout rooms with vibrant, honest and thoughtful discussions with practitioners who shared their intelligence on what needs to change, as well as solutions and suggestions for policy priorities in the short, medium and longer term.

We had a broad spectrum of practitioners from a range of health visiting backgrounds joining the event. And they all welcomed the opportunity to then meet our new CNO for England, Duncan Burton, and share their suggestions with him in an open discussion. A nurse of more than 25 years, Duncan was most recently Deputy Chief Nursing Officer, where he led the maternity and neonatal programme and the children and young people’s transformation programme. Duncan thanked practitioners for their work with families and recognised the important role that health visitors, as Specialist Community Public Health Nurses, can play in improving outcomes for babies, children, young people and families. Duncan received a virtual “round of applause” when he emphasised that he always named “babies” in all his conversations about children, as he recognised the importance of focusing on their needs and the earliest years of life as a foundation for health and wellbeing – thanks for being a champion for babies, Duncan!

Commenting on the event, Duncan Burton, CNO England said:
“Health visiting has a significant contribution to make in all three shifts of the 10 Year Plan, so it was great to join this meeting and discuss valuable ideas and opportunities for shaping the future of health and care. Thank you to everybody who took part.

“As nurses, midwives and health visitors, we all have an important part to play in improving outcomes for babies, children, young people and families. Our collective strength and impact is unique and it’s vital that our voices are heard, so please get involved and encourage your colleagues to do the same.”

Duncan Burton, Chief Nursing Officer for England

Professor Jamie Waterall, Chief Public Health Nursing Directorate said:
“Thank you to the iHV for hosting this Change NHS workshop and for giving the health visiting profession the opportunity to consider their response to the government’s engagement exercise. It is vitally important our professions participate fully in this conversation about the future of the NHS. I encourage all colleagues to get involved in the regional in-person events and also share their views directly on the Change NHS website.”

The whole iHV Team would like to thank Duncan, Jamie and Lynne for carving time out of their busy diaries to meet with our members – it was very much appreciated by everyone who attended the event.

It is not too late to “have your say”:

We encourage everyone to complete an individual response to the “Change NHS” consultation by clicking ‘here’.

Duncan Burton appointed as new Chief Nursing Officer for England

NHS England has announced today that Duncan Burton has been appointed to the role of Chief Nursing Officer for England and Executive Director at NHS England.

The chief nursing officer for England (CNO) is supported by the chief midwifery officer, four deputy chief nursing officers, and seven regional chief nurses. He is responsible for providing clinical and professional leadership for all nurses, midwives and nursing associates across health and social care in England, including the 373,000 nurses and midwives who work for the NHS and who make up the largest group of the total NHS workforce, as well as the nurses working in public health and those in the independent sector.

He also provides clinical and workforce advice to the NHS and the board of NHS England, and to ministers and officials in the Department of Health and Social Care on relevant issues.

A workforce that is fit for the future – ensuring the right teams are in place is crucial to the delivery of the Long Term Plan. To achieve this, we need to:

  • Recruit and retain enough people with the skills required.
  • Build places of work that are rewarding, positive and filled with opportunity.
  • Develop the quality of our management and leadership at every level.
  • Tackle inequality and break down the barriers that are preventing too many from reaching their potential.
  • Create an infrastructure that enables more volunteers to support our front-line staff.

Responding to the announcement, Alison Morton, iHV CEO said:

“The Institute of Health Visiting joins with others across the family of nursing in congratulating Duncan on his appointment as the new CNO for England, and we offer him our ongoing support as he picks up the mantle to lead the nursing profession in England into the future. There is no denying that Duncan is taking on this most senior role in nursing at a time of great challenge in almost every part of the health and care system – however, it is also a time of great opportunity for our profession that requires courageous leadership.

“At the iHV, we have worked closely with Duncan for many years – he has shown himself to be a man of integrity, collegiate by nature, and with the ambition and drive for excellence across all areas of nursing that is very much needed at this time. He is also a staunch advocate for babies, children and families and recognises the important role that health visitors play in improving the nation’s health. Duncan has shown that he understands the scale of the task that lies ahead and is ready to rise to the challenge. Congratulations Duncan!

“We also want to thank Dame Ruth May for her incredible leadership during her five-year tenure as CNO. Ruth has been tireless in her efforts in putting people first and skilfully navigating our profession during some turbulent years. We wish her every success for the future! Thank you, Ruth!”