A New Chapter for the Region

‘Winds in the East, mist coming in, like something is brewing, about to begin’. From Mary Poppins, by PL Travers.

I take a great deal from Mary Poppins, one of my favourite books and films. So much so, I have a tattoo of her!

And the winds of change are indeed blowing. This is my final blog as Chair of the North West Board and I can’t believe we have come so far. My journey with the RCN has been a whirlwind so far - joining as a student nurse, becoming a steward, meeting other branch members and being inspired by their passion.  

I became the Greater Liverpool and Knowsley (GLK) Branch Secretary, then Chair, and then was asked to stand for the Board.  My imposter syndrome nearly stopped me from applying, but I’m glad I am always surrounded by support and encouragement from our team. 

It has been a privilege to lead GLK Branch and to serve on the North West Board. We have had challenges, some ups and some downs. We’ve enjoyed success at Congress, triumphed for our members, listened to you through Covid, met with our MPs and stood together on picket lines. We have laughed and cried together and it has been an honour being your Board Chair. 

I have the utmost admiration for our staff team and my fellow Board members and cannot thank them enough for their support. As I change roles to take up office as your RCN Council member for the North West, I look forward to continuing our work together. I will continue to listen to you and to serve you, taking your voice to Council. I aim to help our College go from strength to strength, us all pulling together to do the best we can for nursing, with our patients at the heart of all we do.  

As the seasons change, so do our teams and it is time to say goodbye and good luck to our Regional Director, Estephanie.  She is ‘practically perfect in every way’! I was a bit starstruck when I first met Estephanie, her exceptional reputation preceded her. She was already an incredibly experienced, enjoying a long career as a nurse, midwife, health visitor, lecturer, Director of Nursing and, latterly with the RCN, first taking up the role of Operations Manager in her native North East before moving to become our RD in the North West. 

As a child of the Windrush generation, she credits the travellers who came to help found the NHS as having paved the way for her to become a nurse, and she has been challenging ethnic bias and prejudice ever since. A staunch advocate and leader, ensuring fairness and compassion at the heart of every discussion, she shows strength, power and grace in everything she turns her hand to. She will continue to inspire me every day. 

As Mary Poppins says, ‘In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun’. Estephanie has made my time with the North West Board educational and enjoyable.  It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work with her and I cannot thank her enough for her ongoing support and compassion. On behalf of the Board and all of our members, we wish you the very best of luck in your new adventures Estephanie, enjoy your very well-earned retirement.

I believe that we all are truly standing on the shoulders of giants and must be inspired by those who go before us. I certainly have very big boots to fill in my new role and I send my sincere thanks to Maggy Heaton, an active member in our region for many years and our outgoing North West Council Member. Thank you for all you have done and good luck in your new role on the UK Health & Safety Reps Committee.  

We have new members to welcome onto the Board and I don’t doubt that you will hear from them as they take up their new roles. We are strengthened and supported by our members - the more people who get involved, the stronger our voice.  Please consider getting involved, standing for election to our Boards and Committees. Attend your branch meetings, become an activist. Stand up for nursing and our patients! Let us know your concerns so that we can work to overcome them and your achievements so that we can celebrate them.  

Is there something you would like to see from the College in our region? Get in touch and we can see how we can work together. A great example of this is our North West Multicultural Group, which is going from strength to strength. Now holding regular meetings and events, the Group exists to help us to take a stand together against racism and injustice and to celebrate our different cultures. All North West members are welcome to join, you can find out more about the Groups aims and objectives here. 

Looking ahead to next year, once again we welcome Congress to our region, in Liverpool, to be precise. Applications for voting places are now open and a call for agenda items has gone out. Come and join us to represent our profession on our home soil!

However you celebrate at this time of year, I hope you have a joyful time with some opportunity to rest and wish you all luck for the New Year.  The next time I write to you will be from around the Council table! Thank you again for all your support, for allowing me to represent you. I am always contactable and willing to listen to our members, so please do stay in touch!