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Chief Nursing Officer (United Kingdom) facts for kids

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The Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) is the most important nurse advisor for a government. They help governments make good decisions about health and nursing. In the United Kingdom, there are CNOs who advise different governments, like His Majesty's Government (for England), the Northern Ireland Executive, the Scottish Government, and the Welsh Government. Each CNO also has one or more Deputy Chief Nursing Officers to help them. They work alongside a Chief Medical Officer, who is the top doctor advisor.

Chief Nursing Officers for England: Top Nurse Advisors

The Chief Nursing Officer for England works at the Department of Health. This department helps manage health services in England. Here are the people who have held this important role:

  • 1941 to 1948: Dame Katherine Watt
  • 1948 to 1958: Dame Elizabeth Cockayne
  • 1958 to 1972: Dame Kathleen Raven
  • 1972 to 1982: Dame Phyllis Friend
  • 1982 to 1992: Dame Anne Poole
  • 1992 to 1999: Dame Yvonne Moores
  • 1999 to 2004: Dame Sarah Mullally
  • 2004 to 2012: Dame Christine Beasley
  • 2012 to 2019: Jane Cummings
  • 2019 to present: Dame Ruth May

Chief Nursing Officers for Scotland: Leading Nurses

Shirley-Anne Somerville, Nicola Sturgeon and Fiona McQueen COVID-19 - 30 September 2020
Shirley-Anne Somerville, Nicola Sturgeon and Fiona McQueen talking to Scotland during the COVID-19 pandemic in September 2020. Fiona McQueen was the Chief Nursing Officer for Scotland at that time.

The Chief Nursing Officer for Scotland works with the Scottish Government. Before that, they worked with the Scottish Office. This role helps guide health and nursing decisions in Scotland.

  • 1939 to 1944: Margaret Colville Marshall
  • 1944 to 1961: Mary Olivia Robinson
  • 1961 to 1969: Margaret Macnaughton
  • 1970 to 1976: Dame Muriel Powell
  • 1977 to 1988: Margaret Gibson Auld
  • 1988 to 1992: Dame Yvonne Moores
  • 1992 to 2004: Anne Jarvie
  • 2004 to 2009: Paul Martin
  • 2010 to 2014: Rosalyn Elaine Moore
  • 2015 to 2020: Fiona McQueen
  • 2020 onwards: Prof Amanda Croft

Chief Nursing Officers for Wales: Guiding Healthcare

These important nurses advise the Welsh Government on all things related to nursing and health in Wales.

  • 1972 to 1981: Edith Alice Bell
  • 1982 to 1988: Dame Yvonne Moores
  • 1999 to 2010: Rosemary Kennedy
  • 2010 to 2021: Jean White
  • 2021 to 2021: Gareth Howells (interim)
  • 2021 to present: Sue Tranka

Chief Nursing Officers for Northern Ireland: Health Leaders

The Chief Nursing Officer for Northern Ireland works at the Department of Health (Northern Ireland). They provide expert advice on nursing for the government in Northern Ireland.

  • 1960 to 1975: Mona Grey
  • 1995 to 2005: Judith Hill
  • 2005 to 2011: Martin Bradley
  • 2013 to present: Charlotte McArdle
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