The lecture series was a partnership initiative between the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work (SNMSW) at the University of Manchester, Central Manchester University Hospitals Foundation Trust (CMFT) and the FNF.
The series provided a platform for some of the foremost academics in nursing and midwifery to share their most recent work, with a focus on Quality and Safety of Care All the lectures have been hosted by CMFT and supported by the University Head of School (Professors Karen Luker and Nicky Cullum) and the Chief Executive of the FNF (Professor Liz Robb).
The most recent, on 3rd November, was delivered by Professor Greta Cummings from the University of Alberta. Professor Cummings leads the
CLEAR Outcomes (Connecting Leadership Education & Research) research program in leadership science in health services, which focuses on the leadership practices of healthcare decision-makers and managers to achieve better outcomes for providers and patients.
Her lecture was entitled “Improving patient outcomes by developing effective nursing leadership”. It provided a fascinating summary of her research over her career and how it relates to nursing leadership. Greta provided evidence on the effects of specific leadership practices have on outcomes for the health system, the healthcare workforce and for patients. A clear message was that leadership should be value based, embedded in emotional intelligence and enhance relationships. Great explained that this style of leadership is more likely to be impactful for patients, staff and health outcomes.
In September the year we welcomed Professor Sandi Dunbar. Professor Dunbar is the Charles Howard Candler Professor of Cardiovascular Nursing and Associate Dean at the School of Nursing, Emory University, USA. She is a cardiovascular nurse researcher whose programme of research has focused on improving outcomes for complex cardiovascular patients and their families. Sandra presented findings from a research programme that she is leading, on improving self-management for people with co-morbid conditions of heart failure and diabetes. She used this work to reflect on how we can improve the quality of care for people with co-morbidities and avoid needless fragmentation in care, which is a very real challenge in the NHS today.
Dr Elaine Maxwell presented her lecture in May, reflecting on nursing and health care post Francis and Berwick. Dr Maxwell is a Principal Lecturer in Leadership in the Faculty of Health and Social Care, London South Bank University, and a Trustee of the FNF.
Dr Maxwell discussed what contributes to patient safety in an NHS post-Francis Report. She considered the role of nursing in creating safety rather than merely avoiding harm, how patient safety is currently measured and how to preserve and improve patient safety in a complex and unpredictable environment. This was a provocative presentation which provided much food for thought from an organisational and practice perspective.
Professor Davina Allen is a Professor of Nursing at the University of Cardiff. Professor Allen’s lecture focused on research conducted as part of her Health Foundation Fellowship, titled Nursing ‘organising work’ – implications for the quality and safety of patient care.
The lecture reflected on the complexity of healthcare organisations and systems and their link to clinical effectiveness, service quality and professional education. Central to this lecture was a consideration of how much nursing work is invisible and not recognised in workforce and workload planning.
This lecture series has been inspiring, provocative and prompted much debate. It has been great to see such a diverse audience, with attendees including local academic and clinical staff, students and representations from further afield including policy and government organisations.
