Message from the Chief Nursing Officer for Scotland
Scotland’s nurses and midwives play a vital role in the health and wellbeing of our nation, delivering compassionate, skilled and person‑centred care every day. As our health and social care system continues to evolve, strong leadership, collaboration and a shared sense of purpose have never been more important.
This message from the Chief Nursing Officer for Scotland (CNO), Professor Aisha Holloway, sets out a renewed commitment to supporting, strengthening and empowering the nursing and midwifery professions. It highlights the collective achievements to date, the opportunities ahead, and the actions underway through the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce to build a sustainable, skilled and valued workforce for the future.
On this page, explore:
- A Message from the Chief Nursing Officer for Scotland
- Download the Full CNO Message
- Question and Answer with the Chief Nursing Officer
- Chief Nursing Officer Biography
Have a question or feedback?
If you have any questions about the information provided, or feedback on this website, please contact the Nursing and Midwifery Policy Team at the Scottish Government NMTenquiries@gov.scot.
A Message from the Chief Nursing Officer for Scotland
It is both a profound privilege and a true honour to step into this role as Chief Nursing Officer for Scotland. I take on this responsibility with deep respect for our nurses and midwives and with an unwavering determination that together, we will meet the challenges ahead. We are navigating a moment unlike any we have faced before - an era of unprecedented complexity, not only here in Scotland but across the world. Yet in this uncharted territory, I see opportunity: to stand united, to innovate, and to shape the future of our professions with courage, compassion, and conviction.
I believe solidarity, collaboration and partnership are key to achieving the aim of the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce (NMT)
The over-arching aim of the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce (NMT) is the same for us all: “To recognise and value the contribution of the nursing and midwifery professions in Scotland by building sustainable and skilled nursing and midwifery workforces, with attractive, varied career choices, fair work and flexibility, where all are respected and empowered, and where staff actively choose to stay in Scotland’s health and social care workforce their whole career.”
I had the privilege of being involved in the NMT from the beginning and now relish the opportunity to deliver these pioneering recommended actions to give our nurses and midwives both the short and long-term sustainable change that is needed to make Scotland the best place for nurses and midwives to thrive.
Professor Aisha Holloway
Chief Nursing Officer for Scotland
Download the Full Message from Chief Nursing Officer for Scotland
Scotland’s Chief Nursing Officer shares an inspiring message of unity, purpose and ambition, emphasising our shared determination to move forward together with courage, compassion and a commitment to building a sustainable, skilled nursing and midwifery workforce.
🔗 Read the full message from Chief Nursing Officer for Scotland.
Question and Answer with the CNO
What do you see as a key factor in delivering the NMT?
I will continue to work in partnership across Scotland’s health and social care services and higher education institutes to implement the recommended actions at pace. I believe they will lead to genuine, meaningful improvements across the sector, enabling our nursing and midwifery staff to succeed, feel real pride in their profession and the care they deliver, feel valued and visible and enjoy being at work.
How does the NMT fit with the wider SG policy landscape?
Delivery will be in the context of the Scottish Government’s Service Renewal Framework (SRF). The SRF sets out the Scottish Government’s high-level strategic policy intent for how reform is undertaken to ensure that we have sustainable health and social care services, given the scale of growing demand it faces.
Alongside, the Operational Improvement Plan and Population Health Framework, the SRF will drive forward work by setting out how we will plan our services for our whole population over the medium and longer term.
These policies set out a long-term approach for the reform and renewal of health and social care in Scotland, with a strong emphasis on continued engagement, coordination and co-production with stakeholders from across the sector and system. NMT implementation will also take cognisance of Public Health Scotland’s new 10-year strategy, “Together We Can”, which sets out a clear and ambitious direction for improving and protecting the health and wellbeing of people across Scotland.
Do you have any final reflections as the newly appointed CNO?
I want to sincerely thank all those involved in the NMT, from those who contributed to the Listening Project and shaped the recommended actions, to those who are supporting delivery and piloting new ways of working.
Whilst I am leading the charge at a national level, I recognise that when we empower frontline teams to test, learn, and refine—to lead quality initiatives, to harness data, to collaborate across disciplines—patients benefit, staff flourish, and services become more resilient. I need each and every nurse and midwife to join me on this journey and help shape the legacy of the NMT.
I would like to continue this delivery phase of the NMT in the same way we started, by listening. If you have any questions, concerns, achievements or ideas you would like to share to support this journey, please get in touch with my team NMTenquiries@gov.scot.
Chief Nursing Officer for Scotland Biography
Professor Aisha Holloway took on the role of Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) for Scotland in November 2025.
She oversees the Chief Nursing Directorate in achieving the best health and care outcomes for people by working on patient, public and health professions policy, and supports ministers and the NHS in delivering a safe, effective and person-centred health and social care system.
She is the Chair of Nursing Studies at The University of Edinburgh. She also maintains her role as Adjunct Professor at The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland and Royal College of Nursing.
Aisha is formerly Programme Director for the global programme Nursing Now Challenge which is the largest global community network of early career nurses, midwives and students. She recently worked for the World Health Organisation HQ in Geneva, with a specific focus on workforce. She most recently sat on the State of the Worlds Nursing Network (SoWNN) Steering Committee launched in May 2025.
She has held a number of Government, Non-Government Advisory and Board roles within the UK and Internationally.
Aisha has built a strong research programme spanning 30 years in public health and alcohol and workforce with a strong focus on health policy and political nurse leadership.
Explore the Taskforce Website
