On International Nurses Day (12 May), our chief nurse, Debbie Fagan and Dr Rob Caudwell, chair at NHS Southport and Formby CCG are in Venice as part of a North West Leadership Academy (NWLA) delegation to discuss best practice in healthcare with other clinical leaders from around the world.

The study tour is part of the NWLA’s Leadership for Integration Programme 2016 and Debbie and Rob are with fellow nurses and GPs from New Zealand and Italy along with other North West CCGs. Funded by the NWLA in partnership with the International Federation for Integrated Care, the visit is giving Debbie and Rob the chance to speak with other leaders who work in the Venice Health and Social Care System, and to learn from their system wide approach.

Talking about the trip, Debbie said: We are here for three days and so far it has been really worthwhile. We are getting to see the integrated health and social care system across primary, acute and community care.

“A huge thanks to the North West Leadership Academy who organised the trip and brought the group together. It’s fantastic to celebrate International Nurses Day by learning what nurses are doing in other parts of the world.”

International Nurses Day is organised by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and it is celebrated each year on 12 May, which is the birthday of Florence Nightingale, hailed as the founder of modern nursing.

The day is an opportunity to recognise and reflect upon the contribution that caring nurses and allied health professionals make to people’s lives all around the world.