Lyndsey Dunn is Chair of the BGS Nurses and AHPs Council and Head of Community Health and Care at Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership.
I am truly delighted, in my role as Chair of the British Geriatrics Society Nurses and AHPs (NAHPs) Council, to once again bring a four nations approach to celebrating International Nurses’ Day.
Across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, we come together to honour the phenomenal contribution of nurses who work with older people. Professionals who, every day, promote independence, uphold dignity and enhance quality of life for those they care for.
This year’s theme, Empowering the journey: Celebrating nurses who work with older people to promote independence, dignity and quality of life, reflects not only the essence of our work, but the values that define us as a profession.
This year also marks a very personal milestone for me, as I celebrate 25 years working within the NHS, something I am incredibly proud of. My journey into nursing has not been a traditional one. I began as a Higher National Certificate (HNC) student and progressed through different roles, including working as a clinical support worker before qualifying as a nurse. This has given me a grounded understanding of care at every level of the system. It has shaped who I am as a leader and strengthened my belief in creating opportunities for others to enter this wonderful profession through alternative pathways. I am a strong advocate for widening access into nursing and supporting people to grow and develop across their careers.
My passion for working with older people is deeply personal. It stems from the close relationship I had with my grandmother, and the experiences I witnessed during her care, particularly when she experienced delays in hospital that impacted her health and wellbeing. Those moments have stayed with me and continue to shape my values and drive my commitment to improving care across health and social care.
I often reflect on her simple but powerful sentiment. Time is not ours to prescribe. For me, this captures the essence of what it means to care for older people. Supporting older adults can be more than a prescriptive treatment plan. Instead, it is about taking the time to ask, “What matters most to you?” and ensuring that care is built around that. It is through these conversations that we truly promote independence, preserve dignity and enable people to live the best possible quality of life.
As I reflect on the past nearly two years since being elected to this role, I am reminded what a privilege and an honour it is to work with older people. In many ways, it is about caring for those who once cared for us. A responsibility that should never be underestimated.
This approach requires compassion, skill and a deep respect for the individuality of every person we support. It also requires us as a profession to continue lifting each other up. We need to share knowledge, champion best practice and empower one another to lead and innovate.
So today, it is my pleasure to introduce and celebrate our four nations community. Together, we will continue to strengthen our collective voice and recognise the extraordinary work happening every day across our services.
Let us continue to empower each other.
Let us continue to lift one another up.
Most importantly, let us continue to be a voice for older people.
Happy International Nurses’ Day to each and every one of you.
