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About the Chief Nursing Officer

  • Last modified date:
    8 February 2007

The Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) is a senior civil servant and Director in the Department of Health. In addition to nursing, the CNO has responsibilities for patient and public involvement and the allied health professions. The CNO is the lead Director for Self Care and is the Compact Champion.

The CNO:

  • provides expert advice on nursing, midwifery and health visiting to Government and helps to develop, implement and evaluate Government health policy, leading on nursing, midwifery and health visiting policy and strategy in support of the Government's objectives
  • provides professional leadership to the nursing, midwifery and health visiting professions in England, working closely with the professional statutory bodies, professional and staff associations, NHS managers and the voluntary and independent sectors
  • ensures an effective UK contribution to nursing and health policy in international fora, including the World Health Organisation, the Commonwealth and Europe
  • contributes to the Department's central task of managing the NHS.

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