Clinical Leadership in Gynaecology

Clinical leadership is a key element of providing high quality care across health and social care. This resource is designed to help and support those with a leadership role in gynaecology and women's health.

Intelligence gathering suggest that there are challenges for gynaecology matron in their efforts to fulfil this critically important role. This can be related to the support needed to action competing priorities in the practice area. It is also related to the changing service configurations in Women's services and gynaecology wards in recent years. Reports included concerns that some gynaecology wards have been integrated to other service areas, where some women needing inpatient care in gynaecology may be placed in different wards across a busy acute trust. 

It is essential that nurses are enabled to provide the specialist nursing care and support these women require though the leadership of their matrons.

In order to support this aim, a group, The Matron Network, has been convened to support matrons working in gynaecology, where good practice can be shared, such as job descriptions, business cases and areas of good practice.

The Matron Network

The Matron Network is a virtual network to provide help and support, and if you would like to join the network please contact Emma Ayling, Gynaecology Matron on: emma.ayling2@nhs.net

The network aims to meet virtually about every six weeks to discuss ideas, issues and provide help and peer support.

“This group is just starting out. Please join us for an exciting development. We are aiming to look at the issues and challenges and discuss the good practice that happens within gynaecology across the UK. An example of this can be seen with a Sample job description for a Band 6 gynaecology nurse who covers the gynaecology patients who are placed on different wards to ensure their needs are met. If you have a particular question, query or idea then please contact us.“ Emma Ayling.

• do you have a new way of working?
• do you have competencies?
• or are you looking at developing them? 

We plan to develop a bank of examples that you can use, which an be accessed via the network, including:

• gynaecology ward
• gynaecology outpatients – HCA and RN 
• vaginal speculum competencies 
• endometrial biopsy 
• bimanual  examination 
• nurse administration of methotrexate
• assisting in Gynaecology assessment
• nurse assessment skills
• pregnancy loss management
• insertion of vaginal pessaries
• hysteroscopy clinic 
• colposcopy clinic 
• administration PV misoprostol
• late miscarriage and TOP
• removal of vaginal packs supporting female examination, testing and treatment UHS
• enhanced Recovery Guideline and Local Safety Standards for Invasive Procedures  (LocSSip)
• Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) hysteroscopy job descriptions.

New way of working for gynaecology nurses

When there is no ward but women are spread throughout the hospital, gynaecology nurses see the women on any ward to ensure that they get the best care possible and advice that they need, see: Sample job description band 6 inpatient nurse.

Please note membership of the RCN or the RCN Women’s Health Forum is not a prerequisite of joining this group, however if you wish to explore membership of the RCN, please see: Join the RCN.

RCN Women’s Health Forum 

To find out more about the forums activities, see: Our work.

The RCN's Women's Health Forum has also developed a range of resources, see: Women's health.