SCOTLAND’S Interim Chief Nursing Officer commended the positive, confident and pro-active approach of NHS Dumfries and Galloway nurses during a visit to the region.
Anne Armstrong engaged with nursing staff, students, and senior leaders across the region when she visited on Monday December 9, gaining firsthand insights into the unique challenges and innovations shaping local healthcare delivery.
NHS Dumfries and Galloway’s Director of Nursing Mark Kelly said: “We were delighted to welcome the Interim Chief Nursing Officer on Monday, and to showcase the incredible work of our nursing teams.
“Her visit provided an invaluable opportunity to share insights from our staff and highlight the innovative approaches we’ve implemented to address the needs of our population.”
Mr Kelly added that: “Anne observed she is very keen that nurses, who are the largest part of our local NHS workforce, are influential voices in the planning and executing of future healthcare services.”
Ms Armstrong’s day began with a Community Nursing ‘marketplace,’ where she met with several community nurses and learned about Advanced Practice Nursing, Cottage Hospitals, Clinical Nurse Specialists, and Community Nursing initiatives.
She then visited Ward 1 at Mountainhall Treatment Centre (MHTC), before visiting Midpark Hospital and the University of the West of Scotland campus, engaging directly with students and staff.
The visit continued with a meeting with NHS Dumfries and Galloway Chief Executive Julie White and directors, followed by a trip to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary (DGRI). There, she met senior nursing staff and newly qualified practitioners, and toured the Emergency Department and Acute Medical Unit.
Reflecting on her visit, Ms Armstrong said: “Thank you to you and your team for enabling my visit. It was a joy to meet colleagues and to learn from them what works well and what could be better.
“It’s given me food for thought from a national policy perspective as we start to implement the outputs from the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce, as well as the development of broader nursing policy areas.”
She added: “I was struck by the positivity of the team, despite all of the challenges, and how comfortable everyone felt in putting forward their views to further shape and improve practice and outcomes for people.”
Mark Kelly, Director of Nursing for NHS Dumfries and Galloway described the visit as ‘hugely positive’.
He said: “My thanks go to Anne for spending a whole day with our staff in NHS Dumfries and Galloway – I know they relished the opportunity to discuss with her their work, and the current nursing challenges and opportunities. The feedback we received is a testament to the dedication and hard work of all of our staff, who consistently go above and beyond to deliver excellent care.
“The visit reflected NHS Dumfries and Galloway’s focus on delivering patient-centred care, and on fostering an environment where innovation and collaboration thrive.”
