Patrick Vernon

Patrick Vernon chairs the Rising Together Nursing & Midwifery Leadership Conference in the North West

Patrick Vernon chaired the Rising Together Nursing & Midwifery Leadership Conference in the North West, a forum focused on leadership, workforce equity, and accountability within the NHS. The conference brought together nurses, midwives, senior leaders, and partner organisations to examine representation, progression, and structural barriers affecting Black and Global Majority staff.

In his opening remarks, Vernon referenced the historical context of workforce inequality within the NHS. Seventy-six years after Windrush, and following successive waves of migration from across the Commonwealth, Black and Global Majority nurses and midwives continue to be over-represented in frontline roles and under-represented at senior leadership level.

Vernon also referenced a visit in the previous summer to Manchester Metropolitan University, where he studied law, to address a nursing graduation ceremony. At that event, over 90 per cent of graduating nurses were from Global Majority backgrounds. The cohort reflected the demographic composition of the NHS nursing workforce and the pipeline entering the profession.

The key issue identified was whether existing NHS structures will enable equitable progression into senior leadership roles or continue to reproduce barriers that limit advancement. The Rising Together programme focuses on addressing this gap through leadership development and system-level accountability.

Discussions at the conference emphasised the need for measurable accountability at board level, within Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), and at national leadership level, particularly during a period of NHS restructuring and sustained financial pressure. The relevance of workforce equity was considered in the context of organisational change, public trust, and service delivery.

Vernon acknowledged the role of Professor Faye Ruddock DL and the Caribbean & African Health Network (CAHN) in establishing and delivering the Rising Together programme, alongside contributions from speakers, partners, and participating organisations.

The conference structured its discussions around three core questions:

• What is currently working

• What barriers remain

• What changes are required

The session concluded with a focus on ensuring consistent recognition, development, and leadership opportunities for Global Majority nurses and midwives across the NHS.