The visit, on Monday 9 June 2014, came ahead of the arrival of 12 Jordanian nurses on 1 July 2014 who will work in the intensive care units at The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel. The nurses will have the opportunity to develop their clinical skills at the world-renowned hospital, as well as share their learning with colleagues back home in Jordan.
Princess Muna al-Hussein is credited with improving nurse training and the health of the population as well as championing nursing excellence in Jordan, after founding the Princess Muna College of Nursing in 1962.
During her visit, Princess Muna al-Hussein toured the wards at St Bartholomew's Hospital and met with staff, to hear about how staff ensure that all patients are given high-quality, compassionate care.
Chief Nurse at Barts Health NHS Trust, Professor Kay Riley, said: "I was delighted to welcome Princess Muna al-Hussein to speak to our nurses in the beautiful and historic Great Hall at St Bartholomew's Hospital.
"We very much look forward to receiving the nurses from Jordan next month in what I am sure will be a rewarding experience for both them and colleagues at Barts Health.
"Our event is about supporting our nurses, midwives and Allied Health Professionals so that they are able to put their patient at the centre of their care. In an era that has seen much advancement in science, medicine and technology in the NHS, we are keen to ensure that as much focus and attention is given to the provision of personal, compassionate care for all our patients."
It is this aim that lies at the heart of the Barts Health care campaign (#becausewecare) and, one year on since its launch, was celebrated at the conference. Using NHS England's '6Cs' – care, compassion, competence, communication, courage and commitment – developed to focus on the very essence of what great care means for patients, nurses discussed how to ensure these aims are met in all that they do.
Also at the event was Jane Cummings, NHS England's Chief Nursing Officer, who explained how best to implement the 6Cs and Caroline Alexander, Regional Chief Nurse of NHS England London.
Caroline said: "It was a great pleasure to meet Princess Muna al-Hussein and share our common vision of the importance of compassion in nursing.
"It was also great to hear about the partnership between Bart's Health and Jordan to offer specialist education and training for qualified military nurses from Jordan starting with training of nurses in critical care skills. This is a great example of an international nursing partnership and I look forward to seeing how this initiative develops and strengthens nursing in both countries as a result."