Sue Tranka

We need environments where nurses feel valued and able to thrive As Chief Nursing Officer for Wales, it is both a privilege and a pleasure to wish nurses across Wales – and our colleagues around the world – a very happy International Nurses Day. Diwrnod Rhyngwladol y Nyrs hapus i chi gyd. This year's theme, ‘Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives’, captures a simple but profound truth: the future of health and care depends on how well we value, support and empower our nursing workforce.

Vision, planning and a focus on staff wellbeing is essential if the nursing and midwifery professions are to meet the challenges of tomorrow. Chief Nursing Officers for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England Anne Armstrong, Sue Tranka, Maria McIlgorm and Duncan Burton reflect on the importance of supporting nurses and midwives as their professions evolve to meet patient need.

I am delighted to mark my first International Nurses Day as Interim Chief Nursing Officer. I want to take this opportunity to thank all nurses across Scotland working in health and social care for their continued dedication to improving patient outcomes. As this year marks 5 years since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, I want to reflect on the challenges that our nursing staff experienced during that time.