The South Belfast MLA said she warmly welcomed the Northern Ireland launch of the Nursing Now campaign, which is designed to ensure everyone has access to nursing care wherever they need it.
“This comes with the endorsement of the World Health Organisation and the International Council for Nurses, and fits perfectly with our own overall health and social care transformation programme here in Northern Ireland.
“The Framework focuses on the patient and takes a broader ‘population health’ approach, which enable staff to be better supported and patients to be better and more appropriately cared for as soon as they access the service.
“I welcome the work of the Chief Nursing Officer and others in making this a reality despite the lack of clear Ministerial direction. This does demonstrate, however, the need for those with the biggest mandates to take more seriously their responsibilities with regards to taking on the management of the reform of our healthcare system for everyone in Northern Ireland.”