Published on 06 April 2018
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A Sunderland trained nurse and academic has been appointed to a prestigious council.
Dr John Unsworth, who is Head of Learning and Teaching Enhancement at the University of Sunderland, has been announced as the new Chair of community nursing charity, the Queen’s Nursing Institute.
Dr Unsworth said: “I am delighted to become the Chair of the QNI which has for 130 years championed care at home and in the community.
“The role of community nurses in modern healthcare is as important today as it was then and I look forward to working with Council and the QNI team to ensure that the nursing contribution to integrated care is recognised and developed.”
Dr Unsworth succeeds Kate Billingham CBE, who has retired after six years in the role.
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Trained in Sunderland, Dr Unsworth has a background in community nursing practice, education, management and research. He has worked in a variety of acute ward settings before moving into district nursing.
Dr Unsworth completed his specialist practitioner qualification in district nursing in 1997 and he has worked in a variety of roles including district nursing, as a specialist nurse and nurse consultant. He has a PhD from Robert Gordon University which specifically examined the influence of health care organisations on innovation and development.
Outgoing Chair Ms Billingham said: ‘The past six years have been an exciting time at the QNI. I am happy to be able to hand over to Dr John Unsworth who has just the right mix of expertise and vision to take the QNI forward on the next stage of its dynamic journey.”
Ms Billingham became a member of the QNI’s council in 2008 and remains a Fellow of the Institute.