Royal College of Nursing comments on New Year Honours List
Commenting on the New Year Honours list published today, Dame Donna Kinnair, Chief Executive and General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing said of the knighthood awarded to Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of NHS England:
“Simon Stevens has worked tirelessly in the service of the NHS in England, and it is fitting for him to be recognised alongside many nursing staff today.
“Under Simon Stevens’ leadership, we have now started on a journey in the right direction to address the severe workforce challenges facing nursing, but there is a long way still to go. He has been clear-sighted enough to realise that the vision he outlined in the Long Term Plan for the NHS – which we all share - will not be achieved without significantly increasing nurse numbers. I look forward to continuing to work with him to secure a long-term solution to the nursing workforce problems the NHS faces in England”.
On the honours awarded to nursing staff, Dame Donna commented:
“The RCN congratulates all the nurses recognised in the New Year Honours. As you read the list, the extraordinary breadth and depth of the work done by the nurses honoured is striking – not just in hospital and community services, but in public heath, our Armed Forces and charities, and in specialist areas ranging from mental health to infection control to ophthalmics.
The College is very pleased to see the enormous – and unique – contribution made by nursing staff recognised in this way”.
Ends
