Michael Rosen announced as keynote speaker at Nursing Live
Award-winning poet, author and broadcaster to address thousands of nurses in Liverpool this November.
Michael Rosen, one of the country's best loved authors, poets and broadcasters, has been revealed as a keynote speaker for the inaugural Nursing Live event in Liverpool this November.
A former Children's Laureate, he has written over 140 books including the award-winning Going On A Bear Hunt, Michael Rosen’s Sad Book, On The Move, and many others.
Michael is also a renowned champion of nurses, something vividly captured in several of his works including his celebrated poem, These are the Hands, which he wrote in 2008 to mark the 60th anniversary of the NHS.
In 2021, he published Many Different Kinds of Love: A Story of Life, Death and the NHS; a deeply personal and moving account about being hospitalised with Covid-19 for three months during the early stages of the pandemic.
Michael will be drawing on his near fatal Covid experience - which included being in an induced coma on an ICU ward for 40 days - when he addresses delegates at Nursing Live at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool, part of the ACC Liverpool complex, on November 10th.
Commenting on his appearance, he said: “I’ve written newspaper articles, poems, and whole books about my deep admiration for the nursing profession, and speaking at Nursing Live will give me another opportunity to express my gratitude to thousands of nurses, face to face.
“I also can’t think of a sector more deserving of an event with a focus on personal well-being, not to mention getting a chance to step away from the pressures of work, and having some fun.
“I’m really looking forward to being part of this special inaugural event, and helping to celebrate all the positive and inspiring things about our nursing community.”
Michael Rosen will joining an impressive line-up of nursing experts, policymakers and influencers already confirmed for Nursing Live.
They include three of the UK’s Chief Nursing Officers (Dame Ruth May, CNO for England, Sue Tranka, CNO for Wales, and Maria McIlgorm, CNO for Northern Ireland), and Scotland’s Deputy CNO, Anne Armstrong.
Other sector leaders taking part include Andrea Sutcliffe, Chief Executive and Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council; Bruno Daniel, the RCN’s Diversity & Equalities Coordinator; Professor Charlotte McArdle, NHS England’s Deputy CNO for Safety and Improvement; Jessica Sainsbury, Head of Midwife & Nurse Engagement at the Florence Nightingale Foundation; Winnie George, NHS National Programme Lead for Retention; Jacqui Pointon, Associate Chief Nurse for Community and Mental Health at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust; and Rohit Sagoo, Founder of British Sikh Nurses.
Nursing Live advisory board spokesperson Joanne Bosanquet MBE, who is Chief Executive of The Foundation of Nursing Studies and RCN Fellow, said:
“Michael Rosen is not only one of the UK’s most popular writers, he’s one of nursing’s most passionate public advocates. The way he articulates his personal appreciation of nurses, the work we do, and the difference we make, through his writing is also incredibly engaging and uplifting. To have him speaking at Nursing Live in November, alongside some of the country’s most influential and high profile nursing leaders, healthcare policymakers, and clinical experts, will be very special indeed.”
In addition to over 100 talks, masterclasses and demonstrations, something that sets Nursing Live apart from traditional nursing events is a focus on the well-being of nurses themselves. Dedicated sessions will offer guidance on mental and physical health, while other workshops will focus on the importance of peer-to-peer support, asking for help, and prioritising personal self-care.
Delegates will also have the opportunity to accrue CPD hours, with presentations focused on upskilling, diversity and inclusion, safeguarding, leadership, technology, and much more.