Colleagues from Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust’s Healthier Together 0-11 Team recently welcomed Duncan Burton, Chief Nursing Officer for England, to Middlesbrough.
The visit provided an opportunity to showcase the important work health visitors and school nurses are doing to support children, young people and families across the area, while also highlighting the positive difference community public health nursing continues to make in local communities.
Duncan met with members of the team to hear more about their role in supporting families from the earliest stages of a child’s life through to adolescence. Discussions focused on the team’s work to improve health and wellbeing outcomes, provide early intervention and work with partners across health, education and care services to help children get the best possible start in life.
As part of his visit, Duncan also attended the final face-to-face session of the Bridge to Nursing Programme at Teesside University. Delivered in partnership with The Talent Foundry, Teesside University, NHS England, and local NHS organisations including the Healthier Together Middlesbrough 0-11 service, the programme provides mentoring and support for young people across the Tees Valley who are interested in pursuing a career in nursing.
The programme is helping to develop the future nursing workforce while supporting social mobility and encouraging more young people to consider careers within the NHS.
Speaking about his visit to the Healthier Together Middlesbrough 0-11 service, Duncan said: “It was great to meet school nurses and health visitors from the Healthier Together team. Using their unique expertise and working closely with families and local partners, their work makes a lasting difference to babies, children, young people, and families. Thank you to all those I met for your dedication and invaluable work.
“My thanks also go to all those involved in the Bridge to Nursing programme. Inspiring the next generation of our nursing profession is vital and I was impressed to hear how this initiative is providing mentorship and support to help more people from different backgrounds apply to study nursing.”
Breeda Columb, Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Duncan to Middlesbrough and to showcase the fantastic work being delivered by our Healthier Together Middlesbrough 0-11 Team. Our health visitors and school nurses make a real difference to children, young people and families every day, providing support at some of the most important stages of their lives.
“The visit gave colleagues the opportunity to share the challenges and opportunities within community public health nursing, as well as the positive impact their work is having across local communities. I was incredibly proud to see the team’s passion, professionalism and commitment recognised, and it was wonderful to hear Duncan speak so positively about the difference they are making.”
Feedback from the visit was overwhelmingly positive, with Duncan recognising the strong sense of teamwork across the service and the commitment colleagues show every day in supporting local children, young people and families.
The visit was a welcome opportunity to celebrate the work of the Healthier Together Middlesbrough 0-11 Team and to share the many ways health visitors and school nurses are helping improve outcomes for children and families across Middlesbrough.