Elizabeth Fradd: a champion for children and young people’s care
Children’s nurse Dame Elizabeth Fradd, who died on 12 May, was a champion for children, young people and their families, and widely respected among her peers
There have been many tributes paid to Dame Elizabeth Fradd who sadly passed away on 12 May on her 75th birthday.
Widely respected among her peers, she was the only nurse to simultaneously hold fellowships of the RCN, the Institute of Health Visiting, the Queen’s Nursing Institute and an honorary fellowship of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.
- RELATED: Protecting the integrity of children and young people’s nursing as a distinct field of practice
I first met Liz in 1987 when I was undertaking data collection for my own MSc study. At the time there were only 23 community children’s nursing (CCN) teams in the whole of England, one of which was based in the Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham where Liz, who had been instrumental in establishing the team, was the senior nurse for children’s services.
The purpose of my visit was to interview the CCNs, however Liz insisted that I meet her first to discuss my research. She was shocked to hear that there were so few CCN teams.
A champion for children, young people and their families
In the years that followed, Liz took on key roles, including that of deputy chief nurse in the Department of Health, and director of nursing at the Commission for Health Improvement. She became a good friend, checking in regularly as more CCN teams were established.
Liz generously and enthusiastically shared her knowledge and experience, delivering inspiring presentations at, and often chairing, conferences relating to the care of children and young people – although she always maintained that she ‘hated’ speaking in public.
Liz also played a key role in the development of Nursing Children and Young People journal. She will be remembered – above all else – as a champion for children, young people and their families, and a proud children’s nurse who fought passionately throughout her career to retain a separate education programme for the nursing of children and young people.
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