Thousands of nurses will be eligible for leadership development training under plans announced by the Government on November 23. The number of nurse consultant posts is expected to nearly double.
Speaking at a nursing, midwifery and health visiting conference in London, Lord Hunt (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health) announced that 32,050 places would be made available for nurses over the next two years on a three-day course run by Leeds university entitled "Leading empowered organisations". In addition, 1,152 places would be available on the Royal College of Nursing's one-year clinical leadership programme.
The Minister also announced that a further 219 nurse consultant posts were to be created in England, on top of the 232 which have been or are being appointed.