Media Release
Date: 2 August 2024
Welcome return to RUH for England’s top nurse
England’s new most senior nurse has been welcomed back to the ward that kick-started his career two decades ago at the Royal United Hospitals Bath (RUH) NHS Foundation Trust.
Duncan Burton, right, and Donna Ockenden, fourth from right, with RUH colleagues
It was more than 25 years ago that Duncan Burton ironed his brand new bright white nursing tunic and arrived for his first day as a registered nurse. Last week Duncan was named as the new Chief Nursing Officer for England, and on Tuesday he returned to the Respiratory ward at the RUH where it all began.
Duncan said: “I have very fond memories from the RUH and working here helped to make me the person I am today. This is the first time I’ve returned to the hospital, but I still have many friends from my time here and it’s been great to come back and visit.
“I remember my first day, feeling a bit scared but so excited to get started. I was really proud to get my blue epaulettes for my tunic, which marked that I was now a registered nurse.
“My time here taught me to try different things and take on new challenges, and there were many opportunities to learn new things and develop. However, back then, I never would have believed that I’d go on to become the Chief Nursing Officer for England one day.”
After several years on the Respiratory ward Duncan took a new job on the Neurology ward. Then, in 2002 the bright lights of the city beckoned and he moved to London to become a junior charge nurse in acute admissions.
Duncan’s varied career has since seen him gain experience in many roles, settings and specialties varying from infectious diseases to emergency care, and from Director of Nursing roles to Regional Chief Nurse, and then Deputy Chief Nursing Officer at NHS England, all leading to his latest appointment as Chief Nursing Officer for England.
Duncan added: “It has been brilliant to hear from RUH staff and to see that in many ways the RUH has evolved and is still, in some ways, the same as it was 25 years ago. It feels like it has the same sense of community, and I’ve heard so much enthusiasm from the nurses I’ve met here.
“With a career in nursing, the opportunities are vast and varied. My advice to nursing colleagues at RUH is to embrace every opportunity, support each other, and try different things to achieve your goals.”
The RUH also welcomed Donna Ockenden, Chair of the independent review into maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, on the visit with Duncan. Together they toured Maternity services, which were rated ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) earlier this year.
They also visited the Neonatal Unit to hear about the family-centred care provided there.
RUH Chief Nursing Officer Toni Lynch said: “It has been really special to welcome Duncan and Donna to the RUH, and we have felt proud to show what we do here.""
“Ultimately it was a chance to share the great work our dedicated and talented colleagues do every single day, to ensure we are making a difference for the people we care for.”
ENDS