International Nurses Day

Today is International Nurses Day (IND) and we are thanking and celebrating all our amazing nurses across Wiltshire who provide quality care to our patients and support to their carers and families. IND is celebrated around the world every May 12, (the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth) and highlights the difference that nursing makes to people's lives and to health and care.

Dr Pamela Cipriano President, International Council of Nurses said: “This year the theme is ‘Our Nurses. Our Future. Shining the light on nurses and on a brighter future, moving nurses from invisible to invaluable in the eyes of policy makers, the public, and all those who make decisions affecting the delivery and financing of health care.”

Wiltshire Health and Care has 360 nurses working across 24 sites in Wiltshire. Nurses cover a broad range of roles from Band 5 to 8C including Staff Nurses, Clinical Leads and Consultant Practitioners.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses continue to work in extremely challenging circumstances. Yet despite this, patients remain a top priority. Thank you to all our nurses - we are grateful for all that you do.

Reflection from Jo Meacham, Deputy Chief Operating Officer at Wiltshire Health and Care

I trained at University Hospital Bristol and qualified as a RGN in 1987. The early part of my career was very acute hospital focussed, working in ED and as an ITU research nurse for University of Bristol Dept of Anaesthetics and then in a variety of ITU and Coronary Care roles in UHB, Frenchay and London, also undertaking the specialist ITU and CCU training at Charing Cross & Westminster Hospitals.

I moved into community nursing in the mid 1990’s in the inner-city area of Bristol, undertaking the DN training at UWE in 1995 and worked in primary care and community nursing roles across Bristol. Since 2000 I have been in community clinical and operational leadership roles, setting up the first interdisciplinary intermediate Health & Care service in Banes (Community Team for Older People), leading the  DN, OOH Nursing & Rapid Response services and integrated Urgent Care services (NHS111/GPOOH /UTC’s) as Head of Nursing & Quality for urgent care across Somerset & Banes plus parts of Devon & Cornwall. I have also worked in a commissioning role and as a CQC Specialist Advisor for the national Primary and Urgent Care Inspectorate. Prior to joining WHC I was the Head of Reablement & then Head of Nursing for Banes Community Services for four and a half years.

I have always loved my career as a nurse. I have been very lucky to have had a job that has been fulfilling and evolutionary, with opportunities to work flexibly and to continually develop professionally over the years. I am inspired to keep improving the services that we offer our patients and the populations around us. I love being with people and working as part of a team, relishing a challenge with a desire to keep moving forwards while still being close enough to clinical services to feel that I can make a difference to patients. I was thrilled to be awarded the QNI title last year.

If you are interested in joining our nursing team, please check out our current vacancies on NHS Jobs: https://bit.ly/2Xq8DXs