As we approach Christmas, I would like to take a moment to express my gratitude and thank you for the work you do. Thank you for your continued dedication and commitment to upholding the highest standards of practice. Whether you are providing direct care, leading services through education, research and policy, or supporting colleagues in protecting the public in their healthcare journey, your contributions are essential to the provision of healthcare in Ireland.
2024 has been a very busy year for NMBI and one of growth and achievements.
I am delighted to say that in 2024, we earned the Great Place to Work® certification for a second time. Based on feedback from our staff members on the culture of our organisation, we received high levels of trust in management, leadership, communication and involvement, recognition and engagement. I would like to recognise my colleagues across NMBI for all their hard work and achievements throughout the year and give you a flavour of some of the achievements this year.
Education, Policy and Standards
Our Education, Standards and Policy Department continued their work to support the day-to-day practice of nurses and midwives through the development of professional guidance and standards. This year, we asked for your feedback on two core documents. We held public consultations on the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics and the Professional Competence Scheme Guideline for Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives. I would like to thank all those who contributed. Your views are important to us and we will be publishing the new documents in 2025.
In July, we held the ‘Education Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery’ conference with the Chief Nurse's Office in the Department of Health. The day was a great opportunity to celebrate all those who provide innovative teaching and learning, in both the education setting and in practice.
As part of our commitment to promote nursing and midwifery as a career, we ran an Instagram campaign earlier this year. The campaign was hugely successful and featured the stories and experiences of students and recent graduates.
In September, we attend the National Ploughing Championships to promote awareness of NMBI and the professions. We met with the public, our nursing and midwifery colleagues as well as future nurses and midwives. I would like to thank NMBI staff members who helped at our stand and our colleagues from Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise; the NMPDU and Regional Hospital Mullingar for their support.
We also attended the Irish Times Higher Options fair, in partnership with our colleagues from the Office of Nursing and Midwifery Service Director (ONMSD), where me meet with second level students from across the country.
In November, we were delighted to launch our Student Nurse Ambassador Forum. 21 student nurses from the four primary nursing divisions, General Nursing; General and Children’s Nursing; Mental Health Nursing and Intellectual Disability Nursing were appointed as our ambassadors for the coming year. We hope they will inspire the next generation of students interested in a career that makes a difference.
Registration
Our Registration Department had an extremely busy year as the number of nurses and midwives on our Register continues to increase.
Last month, we published the annual State of the Register report. The data we gather allows us to share emerging trends in health service staffing, to assist our stakeholders in future planning and aims to inform positive changes within the healthcare sector. This report paints a positive picture and it is very encouraging to see that Ireland continues to attract and retain nurses and midwives.
In May, to mark the International Day of the Midwife and International Day of the Nurse, we briefed members of the Oireachtas at Leinster House. Our Director of Registration, Dr Ray Healy provided Deputies and Senators with an overview of Register and we were delighted to be joined by NMBI Board member, Mittu Alungal; Student Midwife, Shannon McHugh; Clinical Nurse Manager, Orla Staveley; Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Antoinette Doherty and Director of Nursing, Sharon Slattery.
The briefing is part of our commitment to promote the professions of nursing and midwifery and to shine a light on the vital work of our registrants.
In June, we published new guidance to support Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) who are completing an adaptation assessment programme in Ireland. The development of the guidance documents was the result of a series of focus groups and consultations with our stakeholders.
Fitness to Practise
In our Fitness to Practise Department, we have placed significant emphasis on how the complaints process is dealt with. We want to ensure that we handle all complaints compassionately and throughout the year, we held information sessions with registrants across the country. Feedback from the sessions has been very positive and we plan to continue these in 2025.
This year we partnered with CORU; the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland; the Veterinary Council; the Dental Council and the Medical Council of Ireland to host a healthcare regulator fitness to practise conference.
This was the second year of the conference which focused on ‘The Case for Reform in Fitness to Practise Matters’. We would like to thank Mr Justice Barniville, President of High Court of Ireland and Remy Farrell SC who presided over the conference and facilitated the discussions. A special thanks also to Rossa Fanning, Attorney General and each of our speakers including Patrick Leonard SC; Gary Rice, DAC Beachcroft; Tricia Skeffington BL; Eileen Barrington SC; Stephen McLoughlin, AG Law; Patricia Dillon SC; William Kennedy, IMC and Graham Mockler, Director of Regulation and Accreditation at the UK Professional Standards Authority.
__________________
I would like to acknowledge my former colleague and CEO, Sheila McClelland. Having worked alongside her for three years, I have had the pleasure and privilege of learning so much from her about the regulation industry. I appreciate the dedication and guidance she showed during her tenure and I, along with the senior management team and all at NMBI, would like to wish her the best in the future.
I would also like to thank my colleague Dr Karn Cliff who joined us in January as Director of Professional Standards – Midwifery and who has also been leading the Education, Policy and Standards Department since my appointment as interim CEO.
To all our nursing and midwifery colleagues, I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest appreciation for your exceptional service and dedication. As we enter the final year of our Statement of Strategy, we have big plans and with your continued support and collaboration, I am confident that we will achieve our strategic priorities.
I hope you take time over the Christmas period to relax, recharge and enjoy the holiday season.
On behalf of the entire NMBI team, I want to extend my warmest wishes for a happy Christmas and New Year. We look forward to a bright and successful 2025.
