Children’s Health Ireland and the HSE publish a strategy for the future of children’s nursing
Press Release
Friday 2 July 2021
Nurses to lead way as advocates for the child and family in delivering rights-based care –
Children’s Health Ireland and the HSE publish strategy for the future of children’s nursing
The future of children’s nursing is taking shape as Children’s Heath Ireland and the Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director today launched ‘Leading the Way; A National Strategy for the Future of Children’s Nursing in Ireland 2021-2031’. The role of the children’s nurse as recommended by this report, acknowledges them as advocates for the child and family in delivering rights-based care. Other recommendations include ensuring children and family are equal partners and participating in the design planning and delivery of care, raising awareness of the unique care needs of children and their families across all services and increasing diversity in the profession.
Chief Nurse, Department of Health, Rachel Kenna, welcomed the report saying; ‘I am delighted to launch this important strategy for the future of children’s nursing in Ireland. There is already a very positive transformative health services environment for children currently underway and this strategy is a key enabler for the implementation of the Model of Care for Paediatric Healthcare services and the opening of the new children’s hospital.’
Acting Chief Director of Nursing, Children’s Health Ireland, Tracey Wall, said; ‘A central focus in the development of this report was the consultative process. The future nursing needs of children and their families depends on their voices being championed. Quality community engagement will allow us understand our patients’ needs and provide a high quality and safe service that is responsive to their needs’.
Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director, HSE, Dr Geraldine Shaw, added; ‘We had a very positive engagement process which allowed for many stakeholders, from a wide variety of disciplines and organisations, to collaborate on the future needs and is an important building block towards integrated care and implementation of Sláintecare in the children’s services’.
The report established that the advancement of excellence in professional leadership, scholarship, clinical practice and innovation in children’s nursing is critical to making a difference in the health and well-being of children, their families and communities in Ireland. Development of the strategy involved significant examination of the role of the Registered Children’s Nurse and areas of interdependencies with the other nursing and midwifery professions, following identification by the Senior Children’s Nursing Network of the potential that children’s nurses have to contribute to children’s healthcare and wellbeing service development overall.
For more information or to view the report, download below.
