Professor Deborah Sturdy OBE, a long-standing member of the BGS, has been appointed Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care in England. In her new role, Professor Sturdy will act as champion for the interests of social care nurses and work to ensure at-risk adults are provided with high-quality care.
Professor Study will work closely with the Minister for Care and the Chief Nursing Officer in this important role to ensure the provision of high-quality, personalised, joined-up care. One of her main tasks will be to engage with the frontline nursing workforce to listen to their views and act as a champion for their interests in government, and the sector. She will also be promoting and raising standards for social care nursing and working with national and regional partners to celebrate success.
Professor Sturdy has had a long and successful career in nursing, including working with older people and people living with dementia. Since February 2020, Professor Sturdy has worked on secondment for one day a week to the Chief Nursing Officer as strategic advisor for social care nursing. She has also provided nursing advice to the Gosport Independent Panel, set up to address concerns about the care of residents in Gosport War Memorial Hospital. Before this, Professor Sturdy was employed as Professional Nursing Advisor at the Department of Health and Social Care between 2000 and 2011. She has been a member of the BGS since 2005.
Professor Adam Gordon, President Elect of the British Geriatrics Society, commented:
Professor Deborah Sturdy has long been an advocate for the role that specialist nursing can play in adult social care and has played a pivotal role in driving up standards of training and quality of care. Her appointment as Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care is great news for those who depend on the sector. This includes the 430,000 people who live in care homes. This group has had a very difficult time during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the appointment of Professor Sturdy, who will act as a champion and advocate, is welcome good news. The BGS looks forward to working with Deborah as she takes on her new role.”
