State of the World’s Nursing report 2020

Commenting on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) report, State of the World’s Nursing 2020, Andrea Sutcliffe CBE, Chief Executive and Registrar at the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), said: 

“This year, the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, was due to be a year of celebration and pride – an opportunity to reflect on the enormous contribution the nursing and midwifery family make to the lives of millions of people living in the UK and across the world.

“Instead, the Covid-19 pandemic means our pride is focused on the way existing and former nursing and midwifery professionals are at the centre of the world’s response to this crisis.

“In these unprecedented times, we are seeing why nurses and midwives are the heartbeat of our global health and social care system and why they need our recognition and support.

“Today’s report brings the well-documented challenges around resourcing, recruitment, retention and ongoing training into sharp focus again. I’m glad to see the emphasis on collaborative multidisciplinary working, which we know – now more than ever – provides the best outcomes for people in all health and social care settings. 

“It’s clear more needs to be done to sustain and develop our nursing and midwifery community and all of us need to answer that call.

“On behalf of everyone at the NMC, I extend our sincerest thanks to the extraordinary nursing and midwifery professionals who work with skill, dedication and compassion every day.

“As the pandemic intensifies here and across the world, we also offer our deepest gratitude to those nurses and midwives who have sadly made the ultimate sacrifice, laying down their lives while doing their utmost to care for the rest of us.”

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