Celebrating Our Largest Professional Workforce and Launch of the Nursing and Midwifery Strategic Plan

19 May 2026

On Wednesday, 13 May, Cardiff and Vale UHB hosted the Nursing and Midwifery Conference 2026, to celebrate the incredible work our colleagues provide every day within the Health Board.

It was a pleasure to see over 350 nurses at the conference with many more watching the live stream. The event was supported by executive colleagues who positively commented on the transformation and innovation being undertaken by nursing staff on a daily basis to improve the care for patients in Cardiff & Vale. The buzz and excitement in the room was tangible and it was great to see the commitment and passion shown by nurses for the profession they are proud to be part of.

Nursing and midwifery is the largest professional workforce in this organisation and are the people patients trust most. Colleagues across acute hospitals, primary and community services, mental health, maternity, specialist and integrated care, are delivering outstanding care every day - often in pressured, complex environments.

We heard from our Chief Executive, Suzanne Rankin, who made a commitment to colleagues on behalf of the leadership team at Cardiff and Vale, to continue to advocate for nurses, midwives and healthcare support workers to be heard, valued and respected.

Bejoy Sebastian, President of the Royal College of Nursing, reminded us that while times are hard, colleagues are strong and capable of navigating through challenging situations.

Rhiannon Jones, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer for Wales, spoke about how Florence Nightingale revolutionised nursing, and how we should all be empowered to do the same and make change.

Colleagues from across the Health Board spoke about their experience with the Florence Nightingale Foundation (FNF), a global initiative that helps develop and support nurses and midwives to be the leaders of the future.

On this day, we also launched the Nursing and Midwifery Strategic Plan, a clear and ambitious framework to support colleagues over the next five years. It will provide clarity of direction, consistent standards and a strong professional framework for nurses and midwives. It reinforces the importance of the fundamentals of care, compassionate and inclusive leadership, and a confident professional voice in decisions.

Amy Dowden, best known for her appearances on the BBC One television show Strictly Come Dancing, presented the awards ceremony on the day, with awards also given to colleagues for the posters displaying their work that could be found around the room.

Finally, we would like to thank our nursing and midwifery colleagues. When we listen to patients, they consistently tell us they value nurses, midwives, and healthcare support workers who are calm and reassuring, who show kindness and empathy, who listen without judgement, and who speak up for patients’ needs.

Nursing is more than a profession, it is a critical safety role committed to compassion, excellence and unwavering care for our patients and communities. Every day you do not fail to demonstrate extraordinary skill, resilience and kindness often in the most challenging circumstances.

We thank everyone for their participation on the day.