Cross Party Group on Nursing focuses on Clinical Nurse Specialists

Published: 29 May 2012

National Assembly for Wales Cross Party Group on Nursing focuses on Clinical Nurse Specialists

The National Assembly for Wales Cross Party Group on Nursing focused on the need for more Clinical Nurse Specialists when it convened on Tuesday, 29 May 2012. Chaired by Rebecca Evans AM, the Cross Party Group on Nursing is designed to highlight the contribution that nurses make to patients, the health service and nursing as a profession.

The spring Cross Party Group on Nursing recognised the input of specialist nursing in improving patient care and will raise awareness of the impact specialist nursing has on improving the health service in Wales. RCN Wales has campaigned for more specialist nurses through our Time to Care campaign focusing on the various specialist nursing roles and the way in which they support patient care.

Tina Donnelly, Director of RCN in Wales said:

"Specialist nurses can make a real difference to patients, the health service and the nursing profession. The cross party offers those in the nursing profession an opportunity to share information about their work, profession and the wider health care sector with representatives from all the major political parties. In turn, nurses are also informed about political developments. As well as being informative, the ultimate aim of the group is to improve delivery of care and services for patients."

Key speakers and specialist nurses included Malisa Pierri, Sapphire Epilepsy Specialist Nurse, Annette Beasley, Macmillan Head and Neck Clinical Nurse Specialist and Louise Ebenezer, Parkinson's Disease Nurse Specialist. The three specialist nurses spoke to explain their role to a lay audience – what does it involve and how does it benefit the patient as an individual and the NHS as a system.

Following the event, Darren Millar AM, Shadow Health & Social Care Minister, made reference to the cross party group on nursing and the value of specialist nurses in the Chamber during a debate about the national cancer plan. He stated: "The role of specialist nurses should not go unrecognised either. I attended the cross-party group on nursing and midwifery last night, and it was very interesting to hear a presentation from a head and neck cancer nurse specialist who talked about her role in offering support and care for cancer patients and their families. The confidence that that can bring to a cancer patient in enabling them to have a positive outlook as far as their treatment is concerned should not be underestimated. I would like to see more nurse cancer specialists across Wales in future."

Other Assembly Members who attended the event include: