Transforming Your Care needs nurses: Poots

Speaking at the annual Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Northern Ireland Nurse of the Year 2012 Awards ceremony, Mr Poots praised the winners for their success in working with patients, with carers, nursing teams and other disciplines to make a difference across the Health Service. And he challenged everyone involved in delivering care to follow their examples.

The Minister said: “Every example presented tonight is worthy of recognition and I would like to challenge everyone in this room to take on board what you hear and to make significant effort to replicate this success in your own organisations.

“For too long we have relied on small pockets of entrepreneurship and innovation. I want to see us actively learning from others, paying attention not only to the shortcomings within our system but to the success of others; making changes in systems, processes and pathways that improve the safety, quality and experience of patient care.”

Mr Poots said he was determined to lead the reform of the health service signalled by Transforming Your Care (TYC). He told those gathered at the Culloden Hotel in Holywood for the high profile awards that the recommendations within TYC will not happen without the commitment of nurses, without the support of nurses and without the innovation and entrepreneurship of nurses.

He said: “Transforming Your Care is the way forward for health and social care in Northern Ireland. Everyone in the health system has a role to play in changing how we deliver care for the better. Nursing is no exception. And tonight we recognise how nurses across the country are setting examples for others to follow. We need to maximise the contribution that nurses make.”

The Minister paid tribute to all the winners: “Tonight is about celebration, celebrating the success of nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants who have made a positive difference to the lives thousands. Let congratulate all the winners - and runners-up - tonight. For setting such a fine example to their colleagues and to others in the health system, they richly deserve their awards and the recognition of their peers. I hope they enjoy their night.”