The nursing community is honoring the legacy of influential nurse leader Dame Professor Elizabeth Fradd, who passed away on International Nurses Day.
Dame Liz held various positions in children's nursing, midwifery, and health visiting from 1973 to 1983 before transitioning into leadership roles.
Her senior roles included Assistant Chief Nursing Officer for England at the Department of Health and Social Care and Director of Nursing and Lead Director for Reviews and Inspections at the former system regulator, the Commission for Health Improvement.
Throughout her career, Dame Liz lent her expertise to numerous national reviews. She chaired the Health Visitor Taskforce launched by the government in 2011 and served as a member of the Prime Minister’s Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery from 2009 to 2010.
At the time of her passing, Dame Liz held numerous roles and titles in healthcare, education, and public service.
She was a fellow of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, the Queen's Nursing Institute (QNI), and the Institute of Health Visiting (iHV).
Additionally, she served as vice-chair of the UK children's charity Together for Short Lives, vice lord-lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, and an honorary professor at the University of Nottingham.
In 2009, Dame Liz was awarded a damehood for her services to nursing and healthcare.
Tributes have poured in for Dame Liz following her death on Sunday, May 12, which coincided with her 75th birthday and International Nurses Day.
Dame Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England, said, she was deeply saddened by this news. Dame Liz was someone she admired as an aspiring chief nurse. She described Dame Liz as a "compassionate leader" and a "wonderful role model for the nursing profession."
Howard Catton, Chief Executive of the International Council of Nurses and former Policy Chief at the RCN, shared that Dame Liz had provided him with support and advice during his time at the RCN, despite having no obligation and facing greater demands on her time. "Now I realize it's one of the traits that mark out the greats," added Mr. Catton.
Dr. Crystal Oldman, Chief Executive of the QNI, remembered Dame Liz as her "friend, confidante, and mentor." She recounted how Dame Liz had cared for Anthony Nolan, a boy who died in 1979 before a bone marrow donor could be found for him, and then helped his family establish the Anthony Nolan Trust. The charity, which runs a stem cell register, has helped thousands of people worldwide access life-saving transplants.
Dr. Oldman added, "I thanked her personally a few years ago when my sister underwent a stem cell transplant which would never have been possible without this pioneering work. Liz is leaving an enduring legacy. Her impact on the profession, and on the individuals, families, and communities we serve — and her kindness and humor — will never be forgotten."
Professor Pat Cullen, Chief Executive and General Secretary of the RCN, also paid tribute, saying Dame Liz was an "inspiration to all who knew and worked with her." She added, "In the national roles she held and, more recently, as an independent health service advisor, Dame Liz dedicated most of her professional life to the improvement of patient care. The decorations that Dame Liz received for her exceptional contribution to nursing and healthcare are a testament to her vision, commitment, and skill."
Alison Morton, Chief Executive of the iHV, described Dame Liz as a "committed nurse and health visitor, a staunch advocate for the profession, and for our work at the iHV." She added, "Liz was a force for good, and I hope she knew what a difference her support meant to us."
Andy Fletcher, Chief Executive of Together for Short Lives, echoed these sentiments, saying, "I am shocked and deeply saddened by Liz's untimely death. She was such an inspirational and widely respected figure in the children’s palliative care sector and she will be much missed by us all. She was always a source of wise guidance, support, and advice, which she always gave generously with such kindness and compassion."