Nurse Research Academy Launched

Some ten professional organisations have teamed up to create Britain's first Academy of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting Research.

The academy, launched on Friday, is backed by the Royal College of Nursing, the Royal College of Midwives and Unite.

It will be responsible for setting up effective mentoring and leadership schemes for researchers.

The chair Professor Tony Butterworth CBE said: "The Academy will act as a collective voice to ensure the needs of nurses, midwives and health visitors involved in research are met.

"Developing effective mentorship schemes and expert support for those pursuing clinical academic careers will help promote excellence in this area of research."

Lord Victor Abedowale, president of Unite/Community Practitioners' and Health Visitors' Association, said: "Powerful partnership working such as this will heighten the opportunity to establish a strong research platform for these professions.

"It is particularly important that public health practice has more underpinning research as effective practice enhances the health and wellbeing of the whole population."