Director of nursing for public health announced

This post will provide leadership to the workforce and help the public to live healthy lives. Prof. Bennett was previously the deputy chief nursing officer. This post will complement the role of chief nursing officer in the NHS Commissioning Board. The director of nursing will be accountable to the director-general of public health within the Department, and will work closely with ministers and the permanent secretary, to ensure public health nursing is central to Government policy. Prof. Bennett will also work closely with a range of other national nursing leaders, in particular, the CNO on the NHS Commissioning Board, to ensure a strengthened nursing leadership framework. Commenting on her new post, Prof. Bennett said: “I am honoured and excited to have been given this opportunity. As a nurse and a health visitor, I am passionate about the application of nursing and midwifery skills and knowledge to improving and protecting the public’s health. This role brings our contribution to the fore. I look forward to working with the professions, our partners and the people we serve to maximise this contribution to improving health and wellbeing.”