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Ella Devereux

Senior reporter Nursing Times
Former editor The River

Nursing Times Featured Articles

Explore a selection of exclusives, analysis and long form articles published in Nursing Times

Nursing Times •

The nursing faith groups tackling health inequalities

It was not until the 19th century that secular nursing properly developed, with the establishment of Florence Nightingale’s first nursing school in 1860.

Since then, however, the relationship between religion and nursing has cooled, with the two moving further apart.

Currently, faith-based nursing practice is far more prevalent in the US.

There, it is a recognised specialty operating in community settings, which places emphasis on the importance of addressing the spiritual needs of patients.
Nursing Times •

Nurse reveals sexual harassment and whistleblowing ‘nightmare’

Michelle Russell told Nursing Times of the “eight-year nightmare” she has endured since coming forward about her experiences and that she said had recently led her nursing career to come to an end.

She has argued that “speaking up is not encouraged” in the NHS and that her case would discourage other nurses from coming forward about sexual harassment.

Ms Russell said: “Anybody who has been around me would be able to see the emotional impact of all of this on me.

The national guardian for the
Nursing Times •

Nurse of the Year transforming lives of vulnerable groups

When he is not working full time as a primary care leader at HMP Stafford, giving prisoners the dignified care they deserve, he is volunteering for the charity he set up in 2018, which provides medical outreach to people who are experiencing homelessness.

Life-changing interactions throughout his career with service users, including veterans, prisoners and unhoused people, pushed him to undertake the very important work that, ultimately, led to him being crowned Nurse of the Year at the Nursing
Nursing Times •

Exclusive: Northern Ireland CNO resolves to transform sector despite challenges

In her first interview with Nursing Times, Maria McIlgorm reflected on some of the key challenges nurses in the country are facing and spotlighted the work she is undertaking to make Northern Ireland a country where nurses want to practise.

Ms McIlgorm took up the CNO role in the Department of Health in Northern Ireland in March 2022, having previously worked as a professional adviser with the Scottish Government.

She joined at a pivotal time for politics in Northern Ireland – just one month a
Nursing Times •

Exclusive: Other UK countries also exploring idea of nursing associates

The updates from both countries come after Wales announced this week that it was considering the introduction of nursing associates, or a similar band 4 regulated nursing role.

The nursing associate role, which is intended to sit at a level between healthcare support worker and registered nurse, was first introduced in England in 2019.

Until now, none of the other UK countries have followed suit.

Nursing Times can today confirm that all three devolved countries – Scotland, Wales and Northern
Nursing Times •

Former nurse leader reflects on career in Northern Ireland

Nicki Patterson, who was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2024 New Year Honours for services to health and social care in Northern Ireland, retired in March 2023 after 39 years in nursing.

She undertook various roles across Health and Social Care (HSC) trusts as well as in the Department of Health in Northern Ireland and the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Her most recent position was at South Eastern HSC Trust as director of nursing, primary care and older people
Nursing Times •

King hosts reception to celebrate international nurses

The event, held yesterday, spotlighted the diversity of nurses and midwives in the UK and paid a particular tribute to the contribution of the internationally educated workforce.

The celebrations came as part of the NHS 75th anniversary, while also marking the King’s 75th birthday.

More than 400 nurses and midwives attended the reception, which concluded with a surprise birthday song, performed by the NHS choir.

During the event, the King met a selection of international nurses and midwives c
Nursing Times •

Covid inquiry: Government considered cutting nurse training years

Nurse leaders have responded to the revelation with concern, and have urged the government to confirm that plans to “cut vital education time” are no longer on the table.

The proposal to squeeze nurse training time came to light during Lord Mark Sedwill’s recent evidence-giving hearing at the UK Covid-19 Inquiry on 8 November.

Lord Sedwill, the former cabinet secretary, was running the civil service when the coronavirus pandemic began but resigned in September 2020.

During his session last we
Nursing Times •

Analysis: The evolving role of healthcare support workers

Part of the unregulated and unregistered workforce, they support good patient care by helping registered nurses, midwives and other healthcare professionals in a variety of settings.

The HCSW role has continued to expand and develop in recent years, and now there are more than 30 different job titles that align with it.

According to NHS England, HCSW is an umbrella term that covers a variety of health and care support roles, the majority of which are on a band 2 or band 3 Agenda for Change con
Nursing Times •

How nurse-led community kitchen is helping asylum seekers

Tables are laid and decorated with fresh flowers and lit candles, as traditional music from different countries around the world hums in the background.

On these evenings, asylum-seeking families are invited to cook and eat together, and in turn celebrate the rich and varied cultures from their home countries.

All of this has been made possible by the nurse-led inclusion health team at Children and Family Health Surrey, who have been running the community kitchen since 2021.

The multidiscipli
Nursing Times •

Bid to raise the profile of occupational health nursing

To mark Occupational Health Awareness Week, which aims to educate on what OH is and how it maintains the health and wellbeing of the UK workforce, nurses working across OH have told Nursing Times about the importance of getting the next generation into the specialty.

OH nurses provide risk-based advice to help people in workplaces to live well, perform well, heal if injured or ill and continue into retirement in the best health possible.

An average day as an OH nurse varies depending on the se
Nursing Times •

Exclusive: Nursing universities ‘open to change’, say new charity chiefs

In their first interview with Nursing Times since being appointed, the new chief executive and chair of the Council of Deans of Health (CoDH) have described some of the key challenges facing nursing education right now, and how universities are looking to address them.

The CoDH is a charity which represents UK university faculties that deliver education and/or research for nursing, midwifery and allied health professions.

Professor Alison Machin, who is a registered nurse and health visitor, w
Nursing Times •

Windrush family reflect on six decades of NHS contribution

The Edwards family, who have worked across a variety of roles and trusts in Nottinghamshire, have spoken to Nursing Times about what they love most about working in the NHS, their Windrush legacy, and what they would say to the next generation of nurses.

It comes as next week the family will be the latest to feature in the BBC’s Extraordinary Portraits series, which is this year celebrating the contribution of health and care workers to mark the 75th anniversary of the NHS.

The Edwards family’
Nursing Times •

Exclusive: RCN chief nurse says fight for fair pay and safe staffing ‘not over’

In an interview with Nursing Times, Professor Nicola Ranger reflected on the challenges facing the nursing profession in recent years and what the UK might be able to learn from colleagues oversees in how to tackle them.

Professor Ranger joined the RCN as chief nurse in December 2022, describing the role as the “professional voice for the college”.

She had come from King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust where she had been chief nurse and executive director of midwifery since July 2019.
Nursing Times •

Exclusive: WHO chief nurse urges governments to ‘listen to nurses’

The chief nursing officer (CNO) of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Amelia Latu Afuhaamango Tuipulotu, has called on national governments to listen to the voice of nurses, amid the pay disputes that are currently taking place across the globe.

In her first interview with Nursing Times, Dr Tuipulotu laid out her priorities and ambitions for her time in post. She explained that now was the right time “for empowerment, recognition, value and respect for nurses and midwives”.

Dr Tuipulotu s
Nursing Times •

Analysis: How nurses fare in the public sector pay struggle

In response, nurse unions and campaigners hit back at the government, accusing it of giving nursing staff the lowest percentage pay rise out of all public sector workers after their 5% deal earlier this year.

Nursing Times has spoken with some of these campaigners, as well as workforce policy experts, about nurse pay frustrations and the wider dangers of implementing below-inflation pay rises across sectors with growing recruitment and retention issues.

Among the public sector workers who last
Nursing Times •

How nurse education is embracing simulated practice learning

The University of East London (UEL) is among the higher education institutions across the UK that are investing time and money into expanding their simulated learning facilities.

It comes after a signficant move earlier this year by the Nursing and Midwifery Council to double the number of clinical practice hours that a student nurse can complete through simulation.

Following an extensive public consultation, students are now allowed 600 hours of clinical placement in a simulated setting, out
Nursing Times •

Analysis: How nurses are supporting veterans’ mental health

By the time they do reach out to a health professional, some have developed trauma-related or stress-related mental health problems resulting from military service, such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

As such, specialist help from clinicians is often needed to come up with a treatment plan that fits the veteran’s individual needs.

For over a century, nurses at Combat Stress, the UK’s leading charity for veterans’ mental health, have provided specialist mental
Nursing Times •

Exclusive: What the NHS digital nursing review has found so far

The Phillips Ives Nursing and Midwifery Review into the digital readiness of the nursing and midwifery workforce was launched in 2022 as a year-long research project and is set to be published soon.

Led by Dr Natasha Phillips, chief nursing information officer (CNIO) at NHS England, and American nursing academic, Dr Jeanette Ives Erickson, the review is exploring what skills and training the workforce might require when working with new technologies in the coming years.

In an interview with Nu
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Nursing Times Strike Coverage

Coverage of the 2022-23 and 2023-24 nurse strikes directly from picket lines across England and Northern Ireland

Nursing Times •

RCN strike ballot result leaves nurses ‘disappointed but hopeful’

It was revealed on Tuesday that the RCN's bid to secure another six-month strike mandate in England had failed, because not enough people took part in the vote.

The college had tried to escalate its strike action through an aggregated ballot, which, if it had been successful, would have given the RCN a mandate to strike in every NHS employer in England where its members work.

However, there was only a 43% turnout for the ballot which fell short of the 50% threshold that is required by law for
Nursing Times •

Court rules final day of RCN strike action is unlawful

The strikes were set to begin at 8pm on Sunday, 30 April and run until 8pm Tuesday, 2 May.

However, the judge determined today that RCN members would not be able to strike on 2 May, following legal action by the government.

Mr Justice Linden agreed with the case put forward by government lawyers that any action on that date would not have the protection of the RCN's current strike ballot mandate and would therefore be “actionable”.

He ordered the RCN to pay £35,000 for the costs of the hearin
Nursing Times •

Unison nurses strike for third time in Northern Ireland

For the third time in recent months, health and care staff joined picket lines across Northern Ireland to protest the current pay deal from Westminster and to advocate for patient safety.

District nurse Nicola Bell, who was on a picket line at Shankill Road in Belfast, told Nursing Times that she was striking once again because nursing was “becoming unsafe” due to staff shortages.

“We’re so few and far between that we’re showing up to shifts and we're being left in positions where our registra
Nursing Times •

Striking CAMHS nurses are ‘fighting for kids and families’

Nursing Times was told on the picket line today outside Sheffield Children’s Hospital that CAMHS nurses were “fighting for kids and their families” by going on strike.

The industrial action is part of the sixth day of strikes across England by the Royal College of Nursing over pay and safe staffing.

Amy Hodkin, a community mental health practitioner for CAMHS at the hospital, told Nursing Times that she was “really worried about the future” of children’s mental health services.

She described
Nursing Times •

Striking nurses warn that colleagues are leaving NHS for better pay

These concerns were raised outside Leeds General Infirmary today, as part of the Royal College of Nursing’s fifth day of strikes taking place across England.

Rhian Wheater, a nurse at the hospital, told Nursing Times that staffing levels across the NHS were unsafe and she found this “scary” and “frightening”.

Ms Wheater said: “Due to real-terms pay cuts, we've lost a lot of nurses.

“We've got 47,000 vacancies within nursing, which means that we can't keep our patients safe and the wards are c
Nursing Times •

Striking nursing associates fear ‘breaking’ under current pressures

They gathered on the picket line alongside their nurse colleagues at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, on the second day of the Royal College of Nursing’s January strikes.

Rebecca O’Hare, a registered nursing associate on a respiratory ward, said she was struggling to give people proper care because of the pressures she was under.

“It’s so demoralising, so deflating, when you can’t give people the time of day that they need and that they deserve,” she said.

Before qualifying as a n
Nursing Times •

Staffing and demand concerns draw mental health nurses to picket line

Staff from Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, a mental health trust, gathered outside Hellesdon Hospital in Norwich today as part of the second wave of Royal College of Nursing strikes taking place across England.

Mark Randall, a community mental health nurse, told Nursing Times that this was "the hardest [he has] ever known" his job to be.

As a part of a team that cover rural areas in north-west Norfolk, Mr Randall described how the rise in fuel prices had affected him and his colleagu
Nursing Times •

International nurses considering leaving UK if pay does not improve

Hundreds of nurses took to the picket line yesterday outside Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC) in Nottingham, as part of the second day of Royal College of Nursing strikes taking place this month.

Among those on the picket line were internationally educated nurses, who described disappointment at the pay dispute with the government and warned that some had plans to move to other countries if things do not improve.

Treesa Joseph, a home ventilation nurse lead at QMC, part of Nottingham University Ho
Nursing Times •

Take our pay demands seriously, urge striking nurses

Nurses gathered in their hundreds today outside St Thomas’ Hospital in London, as part of the Royal College of Nursing strikes taking place today.

Hannah Peters, a staff nurse at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, told Nursing Times that nurses had been “forced” onto the picket line, for not being properly renumerated for the work they did during the coronavirus pandemic.

“We’ve just been let down over and over again by the government – we've tried to negotiate with them, they're not h
Nursing Times •

RCN strikes live: Nurses on the picket line in fight for fair pay

Strike action is planned across almost 80 employers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is set to involve up to 100,000 nursing staff.

It is the first of two strike days scheduled in December by the RCN, with the second due to take place on 20 December.

The dispute is centred on nurses’ and unions’ anger over the below-inflation pay awards issued this year to NHS staff and connected issues of poor staffing and workplace pressures.

Follow this story for live updates throughout the day a

River Online

River Online •

Degree show funding should not come out of students' pockets

Degree shows are typical in marking the end of art-based degrees. Students use degree shows, which are physical and online spaces, to showcase their work to bring together everything they have learnt and created during their studies. It is also an opportunity to get your name out into the ever-competitive art world and show employers what you have to offer. But should students be expected to fund them?

When you walk around Knight’s Park campus, the walls are covered in A4 posters. Each poster i

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