Deputy chief nursing officer Duncan Burton has been appointed as the new chief nursing officer (CNO) for England, it has been announced.
Mr Burton, who is a nurse of more than 25 years, will replace Dame Ruth May with immediate effect.
As the new CNO, Mr Burton will lead the nursing profession as the government’s most senior advisor on nursing matters.
Speaking on his appointment, he said: ‘It’s an honour to be appointed to the role of chief nursing officer for England and I look forward to working with nursing and midwifery colleagues to improve patient care and experience, improve the nation’s health, grow and develop the workforce and inspire the next generation of nursing and midwifery professionals and leaders.’
In his most recent role as deputy CNO Mr Burton has been leading national work on a maternity and neonatal programme, as well as on workforce policies and a children and young people’s transformation programme.
Prior to that, Mr Burton held various leadership roles within the NHS, including as head of nursing, deputy chief nurse, and executive director of nursing.
Mr Burton had joined NHS England in 2019 as chief nurse for the south east region and prior to that was executive director of nursing and quality as Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust.
Chief executive of NHS England Amanda Pritchard said: ‘I would like to congratulate Duncan – this is a hugely important appointment for our patients and workforce.
‘His extensive experience in local, regional and national roles, along with his track record of delivery and leadership will be invaluable as he takes on this role at such a crucial time.’
Ms Pritchard highlighted the role Mr Burton played in an international recruitment programme which helped meet the government’s 50,000 more nurses target earlier than planned.
She also paid tribute to Dame Ruth, who has retired after five years in post as CNO, for her ‘dedication and commitment to the NHS’.
Ms Pritchard said Dame Ruth, who has worked in the NHS more widely for 40 years, had ‘worked tirelessly to nurture the next generations of NHS nursing and midwifery leaders, and supported nurses, nursing associates, midwives and healthcare support staff to do their very best for patients and their families’.
Meanwhile, health and social care secretary Wes Streeting said: ‘I would like to offer my congratulations to Duncan Burton on his appointment as chief nursing officer for England.
‘As a key adviser for NHS England and ministers, his range of experience will be invaluable.’
Mr Streeting said he wanted nurses to ‘play a big role’ in helping write his 10-year plan for the health service, ‘to make the NHS fit for the future’. He added that the new CNO would be ‘key to that’.
I would also like to express my thanks to Dame Ruth May for an incredible 40 years of dedication and service to the health service,’ added Mr Streeting.
Welcoming the appointment of Mr Burton, RCN general secretary and chief executive, Professor Nicola Ranger, said: ‘I’m delighted that Duncan Burton has been appointed as the new Chief Nursing Officer for NHS England.
‘Following years of dedicated service at every level, some of those working side by side, I have every confidence in him as a powerful voice for our profession.
‘It must always be heard at the top of government and given equal weight to that of the Chief Medical Officer.’
Professor Ranger said his appointment comes at a time of ‘many known challenges’ faced by the profession.
But she added that she was ‘of the firm view that with a new government in Westminster and fresh leadership across nursing, our regulator and wider health and social care, there has never been a better opportunity to work together to put nursing expertise at the heart of decision-making’.
She vowed to work ‘closely’ with the new CNO to ‘showcase the difference that skilled nursing staff, with the right support and investment, make to patient outcomes – transforming lives and communities’.
‘Nursing is the most rewarding career and strong leadership across the board can deliver the much-needed investment and support for it,’ said Professor Ranger.
‘We congratulate him on his appointment and look forward to working on nursing’s bright future.’
A version of this story was first published on our sister title Nursing in Practice.
