He was speaking at the launch of “Nursing: Our past – Our future”, a new publication from the Royal College of Nursing, which celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Health Service in Northern Ireland by honouring nurses both past and present. The booklet profiles significant nurse leaders, such as the first and current Chief Nursing Officers, Dr Mona Grey and Martin Bradley, alongside outstanding nurses in the fields of nursing practice, education, research and management.
The minister said: “It is a privilege to be involved in the launch of this new publication which celebrates the vital role that nurses have played within the NHS.
“Nurses have always been the backbone of our health and social care service. Over the past 60 years their compassion and dedication for the people in their care has been exemplary and I would like to thank and commend all our nurses, both past and present, for the invaluable service they have provided to people throughout Northern Ireland.
“I am particularly pleased to be here today with Dr Mona Grey, who was appointed Northern Ireland’s first Chief Nursing Officer in 1960. During that time she played a central role in restructuring the health service in Northern Ireland and her contribution to nursing throughout her career can only be described as outstanding.”
The current Chief Nursing Officer, Martin Bradley was also in attendance at the launch. He said: “Nurses and Midwives work in a dynamic and changing environment. Patient and user expectations are increasing and reforms are altering professional roles and how services are delivered.
“As nurses and midwives, what we do affects every single person in Northern Ireland at some time in their lives. One thing is certain – we will continue to see an ever greater pace of change yet the essential needs of patients to be treated with dignity and respect must remain at the core of everything we do. The public expects no less from us.”
Notes to Editors:
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