Local nurse named as one of the top 70 most influential in the history of the NHS

Pippa Nightingale, Chief Nurse at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, has been named as one of the top 70 most influential nurses and midwives in the last 70 years of the NHS.

Led by Professor Jane Cummings, Chief Nursing Officer for England, on behalf of the UK Chief Nursing Officers in partnership with the RCNi and Nursing Standard, the list recognises and celebrates many inspirational nurses and midwives from 1948 to 2018. It has been released ahead of nationwide NHS70 celebrations on 5 July.

Pippa said: “It’s a huge honour to be named as one of the 70 most influential nurses and midwives since 1948—but all nurses and midwives make their own personal positive difference to patients, women and babies. A career in nursing and midwifery is incredibly rewarding—I think it’s something you need to experience to understand. I’m really proud of everything we do at the Trust to make sure we are giving our patients the best possible experience, all the way from neonatal care to end-of-life care.”

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust runs Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital as well as a range of community-based services and award-winning sexual health and HIV clinics across London.

Both hospitals have invited the local community to join them in marking the 70th anniversary of the NHS with a Big 7-Tea party and a mini open day on Thursday 5 July.

Patients, visitors, staff and the local community are invited to check out our historical photos, talk to the hospital’s charity, find out about the latest innovations and much more. The nursing recruitment team will be there, as well as special choir performances and poetry readings from local schools, and a visit from some therapy dogs. The Trust will also be launching its annual Staff Awards, giving our community the chance to recognise and nominate the healthcare professionals who have looked after them.

Join the celebrations from 9am until lunchtime at West Middlesex University Hospital, and from 2–5pm at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

The Trust is consistently one of the best performing in the country and is the second biggest maternity provider in the country. In recent months, the Trust received an overall rating of ‘Good’ from the Care Quality Commission and ‘Outstanding’ for use of resources by NHS Improvement.