New appointment to drive innovation in nursing practice

Buckinghamshire New University and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust are expanding their healthcare teams with a new senior appointment.

Professor Christine Norton will take up the new role of Professor of Clinical Nursing Innovation, a joint appointment between Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Bucks New University on 1 March 2010.

Prof Norton is currently Associate Dean (Research) at the School of Nursing & Midwifery, King’s College, London, and Burdett Professor of Gastrointestinal Nursing, at the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery. She is also a Nurse Consultant at St Mark’s Hospital where she leads a national service for functional bowel disorders.

Professor Norton was one of the first nurse specialists working with incontinence in the UK and the first Secretary of the Association for Continence Advice. She was founder and Director of the UK Continence Foundation for its first five years. She lectures internationally and serves on the editorial boards of a number of publications.

The new role builds upon existing links between the two sponsoring institutions, and will be focused upon initiating and supporting further research and clinical practice innovation between the Trust and the University, as well as developing teaching and research activities.

Prof David Sines, Pro Vice Chancellor and Executive Dean: Society & Health at Bucks New University said: “I am delighted that we are able to further strengthen our links with Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust through this joint appointment. We are keen to make the most of the opportunities offered by collaboration. The cross-fertilization of ideas that takes place when organisations and individuals work together can only be of mutual benefit to both institutions and enhance the development of excellence in healthcare education and applied research.”

Janice Sigsworth, Director of Nursing at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust added: “Professor Norton’s expertise will compliment the work that we have already begun and I am confident that with her leadership we will accelerate our ambitions to build capability and capacity in nursing and midwifery research for the benefit of our patients.”

The appointment was announced at the official opening of Bucks New University’s Uxbridge Campus on Tuesday 8 December, by Prof Ruth Farwell, Vice Chancellor of Buckinghamshire New University. The campus was opened by Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham, KBE.