New patronages announced for The Duchess of Cambridge in the field of global health
The Duchess of Cambridge has today become Patron of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), and Patron of the Nursing Now campaign.
The new patronages have been announced ahead of Her Royal Highness’ visit to the RCOG later today, followed by a visit to St. Thomas’ Hospital where The Duchess will officially launch the Nursing Now campaign. The visits will see The Duchess learning about and supporting women’s healthcare and global health work, and championing the professionals who work on the front-line.
The RCOG is a medical charity that champions the provision of high quality women’s healthcare in the UK and beyond, by setting standards for clinical practice, providing doctors with training and lifelong learning, and advocating for women’s healthcare worldwide. Founded in 1929, the College now has over 16,000 members globally, and works with a range of partners both in the UK and abroad to encourage the study of obstetrics and gynaecology and advance its science and practice.
Nursing Now is a major global campaign aimed at raising the profile and status of nursing and nurses worldwide. The Nursing Now campaign will support more nurses to play a greater role in health policy decision-making, helping countries meet the pressing health challenges of the 21st century. The three-year global campaign is being run in collaboration with the International Council of Nurses and the World Health Organisation (WHO). It is a programme of the Burdett Trust for Nursing.
The Duchess has seen first-hand the impact of front-line medical professionals during visits to hospitals and hospices, and through her work in support of children’s mental health and early intervention. The Duchess’ patronages at RCOG and Nursing Now provide an
opportunity to shine a light on these vital professions, both in the UK and internationally.
Professor Lesley Regan, President of the RCOG, said: “I am absolutely thrilled that The Duchess of Cambridge has graciously accepted our invitation to become the RCOG’s second Patron, after Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. It is a great honour for the
College, now in its 89th year, and its 16,000 members in the UK and around the world.
“We are very grateful to Her Royal Highness whose support will help to raise our profile as a medical charity that champions the provision of high quality women’s healthcare at home and beyond. We know that maternal health and mental wellbeing is an issue close to The
Duchess’s heart, as a young mother herself. We hope that this new relationship will build on our work to improve healthcare for women everywhere, and ensure that women’s views on the care they receive are at the heart of everything we do.”
Lord Nigel Crisp, Co-Chair Nursing Now Campaign, said: “On behalf of Nursing Now supporters across the world I am delighted to welcome HRH The Duchess of Cambridge as our Patron. Our campaign aims to improve health globally by raising the profile and status of nurses worldwide – influencing policymakers and supporting nurses themselves to lead, learn and build a global movement.
“We are delighted to have a Patron with such a strong commitment to nursing and a history in her family of volunteer nurses. We look forward to working with Her Royal Highness as we support nursing and nurses across the world.”
As previously announced, The Duchess will today visit the RCOG to learn more about the College’s education and training programmes and global health work to reduce maternal and newborn mortality worldwide, and will attend a roundtable discussion on tackling the stigma around women’s health.
Later today, The Duchess will visit St. Thomas’ Hospital in London to launch the Nursing Now campaign. Her Royal Highness will visit a nurse-led children’s ward before joining a roundtable discussion with nurses across the career spectrum. Finally, The Duchess will join the launch event where she will be speaking to mark the launch of the campaign.
The Duchess also holds the following positions:
o Patron of Action on Addiction
o Patron of Action for Children
o Patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
o Patron of the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
o Royal Patron of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices
o Royal Patron of The Art Room
o Patron of the Lawn Tennis Association
o Patron of the National Portrait Gallery, London
o Patron of Place2Be
o Patron of SportsAid
o Patron of the 1851 Trust
o Patron of the Natural History Museum
o Patron of The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and
Prince Harry
o Honorary Air Commandant of The Air Cadets
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