The chief nursing officer (CNO) for England has been awarded an honorary doctorate from Birmingham City University (BCU).
Dame Ruth May was given the award during a BCU graduation ceremony that took place on 26 July at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham.
“Having my contribution to nursing and to the NHS recognised is humbling”
Ruth May
While Dame Ruth has no links to BCU directly, the university said it wanted to recognise her leadership and the positive impact she has had on the nursing and midwifery professions.
On the day of the award, BCU deputy vice chancellor Peter Francis said: “Although Covid-19 dominated [Dame Ruth’s] initial years as chief nursing officer, she has always kept longer-term objectives in view; how to secure safe staffing plans; how to nurture mental health amongst the professions; how to secure race equality standards.
“To the nurses, the midwives and the carers of the future, she offers a guiding hand, a wealth of experience and an outstanding example of what it means to lead with compassion, strategy and a determination to serve the great cause that has informed her professional life, as it will the lives of so many of you here today.”
Meanwhile Dame Ruth said during the ceremony that the decision to pursue a career as a nurse in the NHS “can be life changing”.
She said: “I have never been prouder to be a nurse and choosing to dedicate my career to working in the NHS has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.
“A nursing or midwifery degree can open up an entire world of possibilities.”
Dame Ruth added that it was “a real privilege” to be awarded the honorary doctorate.
“Having my contribution to nursing and to the NHS recognised is humbling and I accept it on behalf of the nursing and midwifery professions who use their knowledge, expertise and experience to care for us throughout every stage of our lives,” she said.
Qualifying as a nurse in 1985, Dame Ruth has previously served as chief executive of both the Queen’s Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn and the Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust.
Then in 2016 she was appointed executive director of nursing at NHS Improvement, before becoming CNO in 2019.
Dame Ruth added: “Nursing has given me an incredible career, throughout which my passion for nursing has continued to grow.
“Working with brilliant, dedicated, skilled, and compassionate colleagues fuel this passion as I see them achieve remarkable things and make a difference to people’s lives every day.”