Consultant Nurse from SWLSTG represents mental health nurses at No. 10

Published Date: 25 May 2012

Catherine Gamble, Consultant Nurse at South West London and St George's Mental Health Trust, visited 10 Downing Street to meet Prime Minister, David Cameron, and Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley, at the latest meeting for the Nursing and Care Quality Forum (NCQF).

"It was a delight to find many eminent nursing colleagues from all over the country there,"

said Catherine. "The event not only provided the opportunity to raise the profile of the forum but to celebrate nurse leadership generally."

The NCQF is a regular series of meetings and discussions which aims to raise the profile of nurses and to ensure that patients and their families are getting regular top quality care. It is also collating best practice information relating to high quality nursing.

As the only mental health nurse on this national forum, Catherine has an important role making sure that mental health nurses are fully represented.

"I am trying to keep mental health and learning disabilities at the forefront of the NCQF but I encourage other nurses to get involved by sharing their views and experiences," said Catherine. "The more nurses who join in, the louder our voice and profile will be."

The NCQF has today published its initial recommendations in an open letter to the Prime Minister.

The Forum will now build on its initial recommendations, with a particular focus on identifying and disseminating best practice in these and related areas, and continue to look at recommendations for improvement.

The Forum will continue to involve a range of people in these discussions, to help inform their advice, and to identify best practice in these areas.   If you would like to contribute you can contact the Forum by e-mail to NCQF@dh.gsi.gov.uk or keep an eye on Quick for internal events.

For more information about the forum, visit the Department of Health (DoH) web page.

For a biography of Catherine Gamble and all members of the NCQF, see this document from the DoH.