QNI Appoints Three New Fellows of the Charity

Community nursing charity The Queen’s Nursing Institute has announced the appointment of three new fellows – Rosalynde Lowe CBE, a former Chair of the charity’s Council and a current trustee, Professor Charlotte McArdle, Chief Nursing Officer for the Department of Health in Northern Ireland and Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England.

Rosalynde Lowe CBE studied to be a nurse and health visitor in Newcastle and Durham, and has worked at national, regional and local level in hospital, community and mental health services and primary care in a variety of nursing and managerial positions. She was Chief Executive of Hounslow & Spelthorne Community & Mental Health NHS Trust from 1997 to 2002.

Rosalynde has worked internationally as an advisor to the World Health Organisation and in Russia with the Moscow Red Cross. She chaired a review of the role of Health Visitors, Facing the Future, for the Chief Nurse and the Secretary of State in 2007. She has also been an associate fellow of the King’s Fund, an appointed member of the Audit Commission and a Governor of Brighton University. She joined the Council of the QNI in 2001 and served as Chair from 2002-2012. She was awarded a CBE in the 2011 New Year’s Honours List for services to healthcare.

Professor McArdle has served as CNO in Northern Ireland since 2013 and in recent years has overseen an expansion of partnership working with the QNI, including leadership development programmes for District Nurses in Northern Ireland and the publication of a District Nursing framework for the Province. Professor McArdle is a regular speaker at QNI events including the annual Conference and the Community Nurse Executive Network.

Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England took up this leadership role in January 2019. She is accountable for providing the clinical and professional leadership for all Nurses and Midwives in England (with the exception of public health nurses) including the 350,000 nurses and midwives who work for the NHS. Prior to this she was Executive Director of Nursing at NHS Improvement for three years. Ruth has spoken regularly at QNI events including the charity’s annual Conference and Queen’s Nurse meetings.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

The Fellowship of the QNI is normally presented in person at the charity’s Awards Ceremony in London. However due to the current pandemic the ceremony will not take place as planned this summer and presentations will be made at a future time to be confirmed